Bio

John Bennett, Edwige Bourgogne-Odney (deceased), captain Dorian Bryant, Danny Bunker, captain Tishaun Jenkins, Jeremy Jones, Eric McCoy, Steve O’Connell, Peter Szklarz, Danny White, Gus White, head coach Brian Meehan, assistant coach Titus Manderson, assistant coach Jeff Scott, student-assistant Tom Shamcoshian

Led by All-American guard and NABC Player of the Year Tishaun Jenkins and future All-American center Edwige Bourgogne-Odney, Salem State earned its highest ranking in school history after reaching the NCAA “Final Four” in 2000. Head coach Brian Meehan, the NABC Division III Northeast Region Coach of the Year, tied the school record for most wins, as the Vikings posted a 27-5 record in 1999-2000, earning the Vikings their first and only men’s basketball “Final Four” appearance. Ranked as high as No.3 in the nation, Salem State opened the year 19-1, before finishing the regular season 24-4. Salem State then beat Worcester State, 83-69 to claim the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship.

The Vikings received a first-round bye in the NCAA Northeast Regional and proceeded to knockoff Amherst, 81-75 before defeating Springfield College, 70-69 in the “Sweet 16”, thanks to a game-winning basket by Bourgogne-Odney in the final seconds. Salem State then won by six, (75-69) against Penn State-Behrend in the “Elite Eight” to secure a trip to the “Final Four”. Despite losing to Wisconsin Eau-Claire in the national semifinals, the Vikings came back to defeat Franklin & Marshall, 79-75 in the consolation game, finishing the NCAA Tournament in third place.