Sam Lacey ✝

Samuel Lacey (March 8, 1948 – March 14, 2014) was an American basketball player.\n', ' Lacey grew up in Indianola, Mississippi and played basketball at Gentry High School.\n', ' Lacey was a 6\'10" center who played college basketball at New Mexico State University. The Aggies had a combined record of 74–14 during his three seasons there. In the 1969–70 post-season, he and star guard Jimmy Collins led the Aggies to their first and only Final Four appearance. The Aggies defeated Rice University, Kansas State University and Drake University before falling to eventual national champion UCLA. However, the Aggies won the third-place game over St. Bonaventure to finish 27–3. Lacey earned first-team All-American honors from Basketball News.\n', '