Basketball
Opponents at the NCAA Division II National Championships called them “Puny Sound” in 1976, but the tall and talented Loggers (with a team averaging 6 ft. 6 in), swept away their last 13 opponents to claim the national championship. In the finals at Evansville, Indiana, the Loggers dumped defending champion Old Dominion 83-78 and the University of Tennessee @ Chattanooga 83-74 for the crown. UPS had beaten North Dakota 80-77 for the West Regional title.
Puget Sound’s 27 wins during the season still stands as a school record and the UPS cagers prevailed against every NCAA Division II and NAIA foe.
All-America center Curt Peterson, a seven-footer, averaged 20.9 points per game, while Tim Evans and Rick Walker averaged 15 each.
The Loggers were not afraid to tackle the big boys either. Against nine Division I teams, Puget Sound defeated Montana, Fresno State, Portland, and Portland State while losing close games to Gonzaga, Hawaii, Portland and Portland State.
Coach Don Zech was honored at season’s end by being named NCAA Coach of the Year.