If you know a college basketball enthusiast, ask him who held the NCAA single-season scoring average, the NCAA single-game scoring record from 1954-2012, and the NAIA single-season scoring average. He probably thinks it’s three different people. Believe it or not, all three records are held by the same man, and he did it while attending a Free Will Baptist college!
The player was Charles (Bevo) Francis. He set the records while attending Rio Grande College from 1952-1954. Rio Grande College was begun in 1876 as the dream of Deacon Nehemiah Atwood and his wife Permelia, who were members of First Raccoon Free Will Baptist Church in Rio Grande, Ohio. The school was supported by the Free Will Baptist denomination for more than 40 years.
But back to basketball. The six-foot nine Francis averaged 50.1 points a game in 1953 against all opponents and 48.3 points in games against four-year colleges recognized by the NCAA. Both the NCAA and the NAIA recognize his 46.5 scoring average in 1954.
On February 2, 1954, Francis scored 113 points against Hillsdale College in Michigan (another college started by Free Will Baptists). Francis’ best performance occurred January 9, 1953, when he scored 116 points against Ashland (Kentucky) Junior College. He scored 78 points in the second half. By the way, Rio Grande College won the game 150-85.
About the Writer: Jack Williams is a member of the Free Will Baptist Historical Commission
