Led by four players who averaged in double digit scoring, the 1995-96 East Texas State men's basketball team won the Lone Star Conference regular season championship with a league record of 11-3 and made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament with a final record of 20-8. 2014 Hall of Fame inductee and Jason Hall averaged 21.1 points per game as the Lions won eight consecutive games in the middle of the season. Hall was named a co-MVP of the Lone Star Conference and earned first team all-conference honors that year, setting a school record with 80 steals..

Charles Ward averaged a double-double with 11.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. Gregg Ward scored 14.1 points per game and Tim Cleveland averaged 11.5 points per game. The Lions clinched the conference championship at home with a 75-63 win over Tarleton State. They were eventually tripped up in the NCAA Tournament with an overtime loss to Central Missouri.