Rutgers-Camden Athletics

Joe Bretschneider finished his four-year collegiate basketball career during the 1958-59 season, when he passed Swede Larson to become the all-time leading scorer in Rutgers-Camden history at that time. His 1,333 points now rank fourth on the all-time career list. He also is fifth in both field goals (530) and free throws (273) and seventh in scoring average (17.3 ppg).

Bretschneider also played four seasons on the Rutgers-Camden baseball team, earning All-Delaware Valley Conference honors twice. Two of his memorable games included four walks against Pennsylvania (April 8, 1958) – one shy of the program record – and a seven-RBI contest against Philadelphia Pharmacy (April 16, 1959), two shy of the program record.

On the basketball court, Bretschneider was a member of the All-Philadelphia Area Small College team as a junior and a senior. He also earned All-DVC honors both seasons, averaging 19.8 and 19.9 points, respectively.

Bretschneider collected 32 points in a game against Philadelphia Textile (Feb. 26, 1958). During his senior season, he broke that personal high with a 33-point game against Western Maryland (Dec. 13, 1958). Later that year, he collected the third 28-point game of his career, coming against Philadelphia Pharmacy in February.

Bretschneider still holds the Rutgers-Camden record for the best game with a perfect field goal percentage. He went 10-for-10 from the floor against Cheyney during a game in January, 1956, on the way to scoring 22 points. That contest was part of a three-game run in which he made 14 straight field goals.