Nationality American Name Bevo Francis School University of Rio Grande Number 32 Date drafted 1956 | College Rio Grande (1952–1954) Height 2.06 m Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Role Basketball Player Positions Basketball positions | |
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Born September 4, 1932
Hammondsville, Ohio ( 1932-09-04 ) High school Wellsville (Wellsville, Ohio) NBA draft 1956 / Round: Territorial Died June 3, 2015, Highlandtown, Ohio, United States | ||
Remembering betsy palmer bevo francis lennie merullo will holt
Clarence "Bevo" Francis (September 4, 1932 – June 3, 2015) was an American basketball player. Born on his family's farm in Hammondsville, Ohio, he became one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball history during his career at Rio Grande College (now known as the University of Rio Grande), topping over 100 points on two occasions. Standing 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) and known for his shooting touch, Francis held the NCAA record for points scored in a game from 1954–2012.
Contents
- Remembering betsy palmer bevo francis lennie merullo will holt
- University of rio grande and small college basketball com announce bevo francis award
- Top scoring performances
- References
In 1951, during his senior year in high school in Wellsville, Ohio, Francis scored 776 points in 25 games for an average of nearly 32 points per game. In the process, he led his team to a 19–1 regular season record and a berth in the state playoffs. He was a unanimous all-state performer.
In 1953, Francis averaged 48.3 points a game, which is an NCAA record. He actually averaged 50.1 points per game over the season, but the NCAA excluded some of his best games because they were against lesser competition, such as junior colleges. One of the games that did not count in the official totals was an 116-point game against Ashland Junior College.
In 1954, Francis averaged 48.0 points a game. He scored a then-record 113 in a single game, eclipsed in 2012 by Grinnell's Jack Taylor's 138 points against Faith Baptist Bible. Francis still holds the top two scoring averages in NAIA history, along with many NCAA records.
Bevo Francis, teammate Al Schreiber, and his coach Newt Oliver later signed with Boston Whirlwinds, a barnstorming team that played against the Harlem Globetrotters. He was subsequently drafted by Philadelphia of the NBA, but opted to return home to his wife and family.
Francis died on June 3, 2015, due to complications of esophageal cancer in Highlandtown, Ohio.
University of rio grande and small college basketball com announce bevo francis award
Top scoring performances
