Men's Basketball
50th Anniversary Pilot Profiles - Dick Armington
Bethel College Basketball will be profiling athletes from the past leading up to a celebration of the 50 years of Pilot Basketball this November
Bethel College ran on “Diesel” power during Dick Armington’s four year career where he set a school record with 100 consecutive games started while finishing among the statistical leaders in three categories (points-rebounds and assists) all four years.
s a freshman in 1976, Armington took on many of the toughest defensive assignments and helped pick up the slack when two other key players were injured. He led the team in defensive points that year and topped the Pilots every year of his career in that category.
The Pilots used Armington’s versatility to plug holes in the lineup. Bethel had Kevin Fulton, MIke Lightfoot and Steve Brown on the frontline in 1977-1978 but needed help at guard. Armington filled in and finished with 153 assists. Rebounding and offense were problems in 1978-1979. Switched to forward, the 6-1 swingman tallied 485 points (nearly matching his career total in the process) and finished as one of the better rebounders on the team.
In 1979-1980, the Fairfield graduate was rotated back to guard and helped steady a team with three freshmen starters.
Bur Armington stood out most in playoff action. He played a key role in a NCCAA overtime victory over John Wesley as a freshman and scored 20 points in Bethel’s first ever NAIA playoff win as a sophomore. In the 1977-1978 NCCAA District III final, he blocked a key shot as Bethel nipped Grace 65-63.
nother bitterly contested District III final at Grace provided the setting for more heroics. In that one, Armington scored 16 points and controlled a crucial tip late in the contest as Bethel posted a 58-56 win. Earlier, “Diesel” had twice outjumped Greg Wright, the Lancers 6-7 center, to win the opening tip each half.
Averaging 13 points during the regular season, Armington averaged 15 in NCCAA tourney action in helping Bethel to its first appearance in the national finals since 1969-1970. He turned in an inspired performance against Lee in the finals, scoring five consecutive points to pull the Pilots within one with 2:18 remaining. But Lee held on for a 69-62 win as Armington finished with 15 points.
Armington was named to the NCCAA All District III team in 1979 and 1980 and earned Bethel Classic tourney honors in 1976 and 1978.
At Fairfield, Armington averaged 16.2 points as a senior. He also played baseball at Bethel and led the team with 19 RBI in 1977, including six runs batted in during a doublehead sweep of Indiana Tech. Armington was a member of Bethel’s 1979 NCCAA District III baseball championship team.
