All those conference championship banners hanging in the rafters of the Montagne Center now have company. Lamar University retired jerseys of three former men’s basketball players Feb. 20 during the Former Players Reunion banquet at Homecoming. Don Bryson (No. 13), B.B. Davis (No. 52) and Clarence Kea (No. 54) left a lasting impact on the tradition rich Lamar program.
“The retirement of jerseys is long overdue,” Tubbs said. “We formed a committee that set the criteria for consideration, and it selected this inaugural class. All three jerseys we are retiring were unanimous selections.” The jerseys were unveiled in the Montagne Center at halftime of the Cardinals’ winning game against Northwestern State Feb. 21.
Bryson, a three-year letterwinner from 1962-65, put together an outstanding senior season in 1964-65 that culminated in being named third-team Associated Press (AP) All-America, becoming the first Cardinals’ player to earn All-America honors. A native of Rosenburg, Bryson was a two-time All-Southland Conference performer, and he still ranks among the all-time leaders in school history in several categories. He is the school’s all-time leader with three games in which he scored 20 or more points and grabbed 20 or more rebounds. Bryson helped Lamar post a 59-17 (.776) record during his three year career. In 1962-63, the Cardinals won the Lone Star Conference championship, and, in 1963-64, Lamar won the inaugural SLC championship and placed third at the NCAA College Division tournament.
Davis, a four-year starter for the Cardinals from 1977-81, helped Lamar win four straight Southland Conference championships and appear in three straight NCAA Tournaments during his tenure. The Beaumont native’s name graces several categories in the record book. His 75 blocked shots in the 1979-80 season still ranks as the best single-season total in school history. He is the only player in school history and currently one of 98 Division 1 NCAA players to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career. Davis helped Lamar post an 18-9 record in 1977-78 and win the SLC championship. The Cardinals posted a 23-9 ledger in 1978-79, won the SLC title and advanced to the Division 1 NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Lamar was 22-11 in 1979-80, won the SLC championship and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 after defeating No. 4-ranked Oregon State, which is still the highest ranked team the Cardinals have defeated in school history. The Cardinals posted a 25-5 record in 1980-81, won the SLC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Lamar compiled an 88-34 (.721) overall record and a 33-7 (.825) mark in SLC games during his tenure.
Kea, a four-year starter for the Cardinals from 1976-80, helped Lamar win three SLC championships and appear in the first two Division 1 NCAA Tournaments in school history. A native of Wilmington, N.C., Kea still ranks among the alltime leaders in school history in several statistical categories. He led the Cardinals in scoring and rebounding as a freshman in 1976-77. He holds two of the Top-10 single-season rebound totals in school history. He led the team in field goal percentage all four years he played and in rebounding twice. Kea helped Lamar compile a 75-46 (.620) overall record and a 31-9 (.775) mark in SLC play during his career. The Cardinals captured SLC titles in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Lamar, which posted a 22-11 record in 1978-79, advanced to the NCAA Tournament where it defeated nationally ranked Detroit in the first round on the strength of his 33-point, 19-rebound effort. The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1980.
