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"David Martin, the SDSU Sports Information Director, sought to bring SDSU men’s basketball players to Cuba to compete against the Cuban National Basketball Team. He worked with Senator George McGovern and Senator James Abourezk to organize a delegation that included players from both SDSU and the University of South Dakota’s men’s basketball teams. At the time, diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba had been severed, and Senator McGovern viewed the trip as an opportunity to rebuild relations between the two countries.
After two years of effort, Martin’s vision was realized. Five basketball players from SDSU and five from the University of South Dakota were selected to serve as ambassadors for South Dakota and the United States. Including the players and their coaches, a total of 100 Americans traveled to Cuba on April 4, 1977. The delegation also included Senators McGovern and Abourezk, dignitaries, university officials, spouses, and members of the press, with Tom P. Nelson serving as the trip photographer.
During their stay, the Americans toured Cuba and met with Cuban dignitaries. When the American basketball players took the court, they were greeted with a standing ovation. Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, along with 15,000 spectators, attended the games. Fans cheered for both teams, though the Americans lost each matchup against their Cuban counterparts. The delegation returned to the United States on April 8, 1977.