1951-1953  "Firehouse Five" basketball team blazes through a 32-game consecutive winning streak and plays in the 1953 NAIA National Tournament.

The Clarion of February, 1953, declared that alumni and friends, "from Alaska to Texas to New York, and over in Japan, are sending in clippings or reporting news broadcasts heralding the 'Pasadena Nazarenes' as the number two team in the nation. The standing is based on the number of wins among undefeated teams."

It was further reported that a United Press release had gone to hundreds of papers telling about the Nazarene college that "produces teachers and preachers mostly, and winning teams incidentally and strictly without financial inducements to talented athletes." Professor Kenneth Keoppel was the coach at that time. There were six men reported as top basketball stars in 1953. These were Bob Hopkins, Johnny Davis, Herb Bounds, Ralph Leech, Ted Cummins and Doyle Cozzens. One sportswriter referred to Davis as "smooth as silk, quick as a cat and surer than death or taxes." One season he tallied 741 points for a 20.5 average per game and a 50.1% shooting average. Bounds was noted for his ability to keep cool as ice in the tight spots. Leech was said to possess one of the best jump shots in the Southland, Cummins was considered an outstanding ball handler and passer, while Cozzens was very steady and dependable and one of the squad's best rebounders.

The Pasadena College Crusaders, as the varsity basketball team was called, on December 5, 1953, won for the third straight year the Redlands Tournament. Coach Keoppel took his team to Kansas City, Missouri, in March, 1954, where Bob Hopkins again distinguished himself, being named NAIA All-American in the tournament there. The team reached the semi-finals and was beaten 62 to 61 by St. Benedict's, the team which went on to win the tournament.

From The History of Pasadena College, by J. Proctor Knott


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