Men’s Basketball: University to Honor Dean Church at Halftime of Home Finale

The University of Louisiana and the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics Department will retire the jersey of the school’s first All-American, Dean Church, during a halftime ceremony of the men’s basketball home finale at the Cajundome on Saturday.
 
Church, who starred at Blackham Coliseum from the 1960-61 through 1964-65 season, is set to join an elite fraternity of Ragin’ Cajuns basketball stars. He will join former greats Dwight "Bo" Lamar (1970-73), Marvin Winkler (1967-70) and Andrew Toney (1977-80) in having the honor of jersey retirement by the University.
 
Church, who wore No. 12, earned the schools first-ever All-America honor when he received the NAIA All-America award following the 1963-64 season.
 
He became the first in program history to ever receive an All-America honor twice when after the 1964-65 season he was named to two All-America First teams — Associated Press Little All-America and NAIA All-America.
 
In his last two seasons playing for the then-USL Bulldogs, he was named the Gulf States Conference Player of the Year.
 
At the end of his career, Church held the single-season records for most points (701), points per game (23.4), field goals scored (237), field goal percentage (.570, 237-416), free throw percentage (.832), most games in double figures (30) and 30-plus point games (8).
 
One of the best from the charity stripe, Church still holds the school’s record for most free throws made in a season (227), most free throws made in a game (18), most free throws attempted in a game (20) and attempted in a season (273).
 

RaginCajuns.com