Hall of Fame

The 2003-04 men's basketball squad carved its name in program history with its remarkable achievements, culminating in an appearance in the NAIA national championship game.

After starting the season with a 6-5 record, including two losses to NCAA Division II teams at the Maverick Classic in Omaha, the team embarked on an extraordinary 27-game winning streak, setting a program record, ending with a memorable run to the National Championship game, finishing with an impressive 33-6 overall record.

Capturing the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) regular-season championship with a flawless 14-0 record, the team displayed dominance with only two games decided by less than 10 points. Their journey continued with a triumphant conquest of the MCAC Tournament, showcasing a remarkable 24.5 points per game margin of victory. The semifinal saw a commanding victory over Newman with a score of 87-60, followed by a decisive win against College of Ozarks in the final, ending with a score of 90-68.

Earning distinction as the first Final Four team in program history, the 2003-04 squad built upon the foundation of their Elite 8 appearance in the previous season. Their path to the championship game included victories over St. Scholastica (78-55), Siena Heights (78-75), MidAmerica Nazarene (74-50), and Sioux Falls (70-62). Although they fell short in the final against Oregon Tech (81-72), their remarkable journey left an indelible mark on the program's legacy.

Individual accolades further underscore the team's excellence, with Jared Anderson and Brent Heller earning spots on the NAIA II National Championship All-Tournament Team. Head Coach Todd Eisner, a Hall of Fame inductee from the class of 2017, was honored as the MCAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, Brent Heller and James Mills received All-MCAC 1st Team honors, while Clint Duis earned All-MCAC Honorable Mention accolades.

Noteworthy statistical achievements include Brent Heller's impressive rankings in the top 10 nationally in four categories, including total assists, total steals, assists per game, and steals per game.

As a team, the Bruins ranked second in the nation in scoring defense per game, giving up just 62.9 points per contest and third in scoring margin at +14.8 points per game. BU finished the season ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage at 49.2% percent and 12th in steals per game at 10.28 per contest.

Prior to their remarkable 27-game win streak, the 2003-04 Bruins had been allowing 70.3 points per game. From there, BU rode one of the most disruptive defenses in program history, allowing just 59.2 points per game during the streak, heading into the National Championship Game.