Joe Gaines, Belmont's first Black male athlete and a basketball record-holder, dies at 72

Emma Healy, Nashville Tennessean
·1 min read
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Joe Gaines, a former Belmont basketball player and the university's first Black male athlete, died Thursday. He was 72.

Gaines, who graduated from Belmont in 1972, was a native of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.

Gaines became one of the most influential players in program history.

Gaines was a three time All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference selection at Belmont. He was named the VSAC Most Valuable Player in 1971. His 1,955 career points rank 10th in program history.

He also has the program record with 1,895 career rebounds, averaging 17.2 per game, and set the single-game rebounding record with 30 at Lipscomb in 1971.

Belmont's Joe Gaines grabs one of his 19 rebounds Lipscomb during a 83-70 win at Lipscomb in January 1970. Gaines, the program's all-time leader in rebounds, died this week at age 72.
Belmont's Joe Gaines grabs one of his 19 rebounds Lipscomb during a 83-70 win at Lipscomb in January 1970. Gaines, the program's all-time leader in rebounds, died this week at age 72.

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The Portland Trail Blazers selected Gaines in the 1972 NBA Draft, making him the first Belmont basketball player chosen. He played four seasons for the Scranton Apollos in the Eastern Basketball Association.

Gaines is survived by two daughters, Alvina Holman and Alveda Gaines Jordan, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Emma Healy is a sports reporting intern for The Tennessean. Contact her at ehealy@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_EmmaHealy_.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Joe Gaines, Belmont's first Black male athlete, dies at 72