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| ANTHONY MASON Mason averaged 28 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his senior year, and was drafted in the third round by the Portland Trail Blazers. COURTESY TSU SPORTS INFORMATION |
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State men’s basketball legend Anthony Mason passed away due to heart complications, Saturday, at the age of 48.
Mason played for Tennessee State University from 1985-88 and left as the school’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 2,076 points. The Miami, Florida native also tallied 894 career rebounds, ranking him sixth in the school’s record book.
The forward was so dominant down-low during the 1987-88 season that he was fouled and put on the line a TSU record 247 times, making 191.
After becoming the school’s first All-Ohio Valley Conference Player in 1988, Mason was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft. He went on to play with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, averaging 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career.
Mason blossomed in New York, leading his team to the Finals in 1994 and winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1995. He was named to the 1996-’97 All-NBA Third Team and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He led the league in minutes played in 1995-’96 (3,457), also setting a Knicks record with the number.
Mason’s oldest son, Anthony Jr., played for St. John’s University while his other son, Antoine, plays at Auburn after transferring from Niagara.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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