Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

In the mid-1950s there were no three-point field goals in basketball. College teams also played fewer games than they do today.  Both these factors, and possibly others, make the mid-1950s accomplishments the late Jack Crossan registered while playing for Indiana State Teachers College all the more remarkable.

True, his career scoring record of 1564 points set in 1952-56 was broken by Cathy Torchia in 1993 and, for the 'men's all-time high, by Robert Misenko in 1996. Nonetheless, the record stood for 40 years, a span that saw IUP graduate numerous outstanding roundball players.

Crossan's point total was compiled in only 64 games. That puts his career average at 24.4 points per contest,  a figure that remains the IUP record.

Averaging more than 20 points per game in each of his final three campai- gns, he enjoyed his high point as a junior, when he posted  25.7 points a night before an ankle injury sidelined him for the season's final five games. That still stands as IUP's all-time best.

Ranking second and third on the chart are his 24.9 average as a sophomore and 24.4 as a senior. A look at the record book reveals his 42 points versus Edinboro in '55-56 the fourth most productive game in Indian annals, his 40 against Edinboro in '53-54 the fifth.

Nights like this, and many others of 30 or more points, were no doubt the biggest single reason why these three teams (coached by Peck McKnight) put together a cumulative record of 44-18, led by 1954-55's 15-5 entrant.

Following Crossan's collegiate career, capped by his 1956 graduation  in social sciences and geography, he taught and worked as an assistant basketball coach at Washington Township High School (Frank Cignetti 's al- ma mater, now part of Kiski Area).

Two years of service in the U.S. Army (1958-60) preceded five as a teacher and basketball coach at Munhall Junior High, after which he taught
nine years at Steel Valley High School before passing away in 1974. Alumni  and friends initiated an IUP basketball scholarship in his honor soon after.
For a number of these years, Crossan maintained his playing skills with the legendary Indiana AC amateur team. Nights such as one when he reportedly scored 44 points while being guarded by Maurice Stokes were typical.

He is survived by his first wife, Carol, and their son Kevin, employed by McDonald's, and wife Louise and their son Mark (a Pennsylvania State Police officer), daughter Cindy (who has been an elementary teacher) and four grandchildren.