BSU-BCM National championships
(Press Release 4-21-03)
Office of Public Information

The Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), formerly known as the Baptist Student Union, at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton capped off their season winning two national championships. BCM won the National Bible College Athletic Association Championship in Waxahachie, TX defeating Latin America Bible College, La Puente, CA 82-71 and the National Small Bible College Athletic Association Championship in Oklahoma City defeating Calvary Bible College from Kansas City, MO 83-70 in the finals.

These titles followed their victory at the state tournament where they downed Northeastern State University 51-19 in the finals.

Herman Adams, sophomore from Idabel, led the team in scoring with a 15 ppg average. Adams also averaged 8 rebounds, 7 assists and shot 88% from the free throw line for the BCM.

Other statistical leaders included: Antonio Freeman, Idabel , 12 ppg, 9 rebounds per game, Michael Crutchfield, Idabel, 10 ppg and 10 rebounds per game, Michael Thomas, from McAlester, with 10 ppg. Anthony Nash, Haworth sophomore, added 9 ppg and played in 180 of 187 games during his career with the BCM.

Eastern’s BCM developed their sports teams for a two fold mission: To evangelize and disciple and to recruit students for Eastern. Butch Booth, now Dean of Students at Eastern, became the BCM Director in 1998 and revived the sporting teams into a strong ministry. Ray Love and Scot Francis now coach the basketball team with Booth’s assistance. The BCM also sponsors teams in baseball and women’s basketball. This is the first year for women’s basketball and they were not eligible for state tournament play due to lack of participation in activities at the BCM. All of the teams at the BCM use the philosophy that sports is not the focus but learning life lessons and discipline based on the bible.

Students must sign a contract to play BCM ball. They must attend six of eight worship services or bible studies per month. When the teams compete against public high schools they share a motivational message and encourage seniors to attend Eastern. The majority of their games come against bible colleges with other contests against high schools.

Prior to Booth’s arrival the BCM would only participate in the state tournament, held for state colleges only. Eastern won the first two state tournaments in 1968 and 1969.

With the resurgence of the sports ministry , they have advanced to the state tournament finals for the past five years and won four titles with one coming in the four year division this year. In the past five years the basketball team has compiled a 231-56 record.

Caption info:

Members of the 2002-03 team include from front left; Michael Crutchfield, Scott Wilson, Cache Hill, Karahjon Hurd, Michael Patton, Jay Barfield, Josh Plair and Scot Francis. Back row: Butch Booth, Rick Hedrick, Herman Adams, Bobby Holland, Anthony Nash, Michael Thomas, Antonio Freeman, Zach Curtis, Ed Compton and Ray Love.