By: Scott Eddy, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications
St. Bonaventure's 1976-77 basketball team will be honored on campus Feb. 6, 2027, to mark the 50th anniversary of its NIT Championship.
Bona's only national championship team will be recognized during the Bonnies' game that afternoon against Richmond, which tips off at 2:30 in the Reilly Center.
In addition to the scheduled in-game recognition, the team will attend a post-game reception in the Hall of Fame Room that will be open to all Bonnies fans.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our 1977 NIT Championship team. Years may pass, but the bond, pride, and legacy of a championship team never fade, and memories of that tremendous squad will remain etched in the annals of Bona Basketball," said Bob Beretta, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "We look forward to honoring members of the 1977 team, one of the most successful and beloved squads in the fabled history of Bona Basketball. We will celebrate more than a championship on Feb. 6 -- we will celebrate the teammates, memories, and shared pursuit of excellence that made history together and became woven into the fabric of our incredible St. Bonaventure Basketball heritage."
On March 20, 1977, the Bonnies captured the NIT crown at Madison Square Garden with a 94-91 victory over Houston. Greg Sanders, a junior forward, led all scorers by pouring in 40 points along with a game-high 12 rebounds in the title game.
The entire NIT run was filled with dramatics. The Bonnies defeated Villanova in the semifinals, 86-82, after getting by Rutgers and Oregon before that. Hagan made a last-second shot that gave St. Bonaventure a 79-77 win over Rutgers.
Senior forward Essie Hollis and Sanders were named to the All-NIT First Team with Sanders crowned MVP. Point guard Glenn Hagan was picked to the Second Team.
Hollis and Sanders gave the Bonnies an impeccable 1-2 scoring punch, combining to average 43 points per game. Hagan averaged nearly 14 points per contest. Hollis dominated the boards for the team and future head coach Jim Baron provided hard-nosed defense.
St. Bonaventure finished that year 24-6 overall under head coach Jim Satalin. For the year, the Bonnies posted over 82 points per game.
The members of the 1976-77 NIT Champions:
Barry Atkinson
Jim Baron
Bruno DeGiglio
Jim Elenz
Glenn Hagan
Delmar Harrod
Essie Hollis
Greg Sanders
Nick Urzetta
Dan Viglianco
Tim Waterman
Head Coach: Jim Satalin
Assistant Coaches: Bob Sassone, Bill Kalbaugh
Student Managers: Leo Pusateri, Chris Allan
