Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics mourns the passing of former men's basketball student-athlete Bill Thieben. 

Thieben, one of the all-time greats of the Pride men's basketball program, passed away on Thursday, April 15, at the age of 86. 

Thieben's name is all over the Hofstra record book as, despite only playing three seasons to due NCAA rules at the time, he ranks seventh all-time in scoring with 2,045 career points and first in program history with 1,837 career rebounds. His 48 points versus Union in 1954-55 is tied for the most in a single game in school history. For his career, he averaged a program record 26.9 points per game and also holds the program record for rebounds in a single game (43) and season (627), in addition to the career mark. 

The 1956 Haggerty Award winner as the top player in the New York metropolitan area, his #93 uniform number was retired by Hofstra. 

Following his standout career with Hofstra, Thieben was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1956 NBA Draft. Thieben would play two seasons for the Pistons before moving on to his teaching career. He worked in the Bay Shore (NY) and Rocky Point (NY) school districts before retiring after a long career. He also served as a college professor at numerous colleges on Long Island.