The 1953–54 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University in the 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Ken Loeffler. La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. Season summary Some basketball historians have called La Salle star Tom Gola the Magic Johnson of his day because, at 6-7, he could play all five positions. But not even Magic piled up the kind of numbers Gola did in leading the Explorers to the 1954 national championship - 21.7 points and 23 rebounds per game. Guard Frank O’Hara was Gola’s capable running mate along with five sophomores who played complementary roles. Sophomore Robert Ames, later a CIA official killed in the 1983 bombing of the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, averaged two points and one rebound in 14 games for the Explorers. NCAA tournament West La Salle 76, Fordham 74 La Salle 88, North Carolina State 81 La Salle 64, Navy 48 Final Four La Salle 69, Pennsylvania State 54 La Salle 92, Bradley 76 Rankings Awards and honors Tom Gola, NCAA Men's MOP Award Team players drafted into the NBA References La Salle Explorers men's basketball seasons La Salle Explorers NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons La Salle La Salle Explorers men's basketball La Salle Explorers men's basketball