Jan. 10, 2009

Courtesy of Northern State

ABERDEEN, S.D. - It was history in the making on Saturday, as Northern State University head men's basketball coach Don Meyer tallied his 903rd career victory with NSU's 82-62 win over the visiting University of Mary Marauders, giving Meyer sole possession of first place on the men's all-time NCAA career wins chart.

Meyer, who entered the season in second place on that prestigious chart, tied the legendary Bobby Knight's previous mark of 902 wins last Saturday with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road win over Upper Iowa, and solidified his spot in NCAA men's basketball history with tonight's win.

The win caps a remarkable return to the sidelines for the 64-year-old coach, who was seriously injured in a car accident on Sept. 5, resulting in the loss of part of his left leg. In the days following the accident, doctors also discovered cancer burrowing into his intestines and liver, but neither circumstance has slowed Meyer's march toward history.

A crowd of 6,654 witnessed the historic event, played in NSU's Wachs Arena.  A brief celebration, including a congratulatory video from former UCLA great John Wooden.  A formal celebration is planned for next Saturday, Jan. 17, prior to the tip-off of NSU's game against Minnesota-Duluth.