PEKIN, Ill. - The Bradley University men's basketball program lost one of its all-time greats Thursday with the passing of Bob Carney, the captain of Bradley's 1954 NCAA Tournament runner-up team and one of seven players in program history to have his uniform number retired.

Carney was a three-year varsity letterman from 1951-54 and still ranks 19th in program history with 1,355 career points (15.6 ppg).  A two-time Helms Foundation All-American, Carney was voted to the All-NCAA Midwest Regional team and to the five-man All-NCAA Tournament Team in 1954.  He still holds the NCAA Tournament record for free throws made in a game by sinking 23 charity shots versus Colorado in the first round of the 1954 tournament.

Although also retired in honor of Hersey Hawkins, the number 33 was retired by Bradley in Carney's honor Jan. 22, 1994 and he was selected as one of the 15 greatest players in Bradley Basketball history during the program's 100-year celebration in 2003.

Carney came to Bradley from Aurora (Ill.) West High School and had made his permanent residence in Pekin.

Carney's funeral arrangements are pending.