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Uclans sneak by, Purdue runs wild; Boston College, Temple win in NIT
The players may have been the same but the script was reversed in last night's NCAA semi-finals in Louisville.
Drake, delegated no more than a walk-on role in the pre-tourney walk, raced two-time defending champ UCLA to the wire before bowing 85-82 at Freedom Hall.
Purdue, expecting a tight struggle with North Carolina for the other lead spot in Saturday's championship show, crushed the Tar Heels 92-65 as guards Rich Mount and Bill Keller combined for 56 points.
Unheralded John Vallely and Player-of-the-Year Lew Alcindor spoiled the Bulldogs' dramatic upset bid with 29 and 25 points respectively. It was Vallely's hot hand down the stretch that made the difference for the Bruins.
Constantly harassed by the Iowan's swarming man-to-man defense, UCLA led by only five points, 71-66, with 5:18 remaining. At that point the foul-plagued Valley pumped home seven straight points to stretch the Uclans' lead to 12 with only 2:20 left.
Drake refused to give in however and behind the clutch shooting of guard Willie McCarter closed to within one, 83-82, with nine seconds remaining. UCLA's Lynn Shackelford, fouled as Drake desperately tried to steal the ball, tossed in two charities after the gun for the final margin.
Coach John Wooden's club jumped off to a quick 11-2 lead over the smaller Bulldogs moments into the contest. However, the Missouri Valley co-champs rallied to make it
13-10 and later tied it at 37 all before exiting at intermission trailing 41-39.
Drake briefly led 43-42 at the outset of the second half and traded baskets with the top-ranked Bruins until Vallely's shooting and Alcindor's rebounding and dominating inside work put the Uclans into control.
Alcindor's 21 caroms and UCLA's 56% shooting were just enough to offset the 22 turnovers forced by the aggressive Bulldogs. Drake's 38.6% from the field—the missed their first nine shots—and ten fewer free throws worked against the Des Moines crew in the end.
Purdue in high gear
On the other hand, everything worked for Purdue as they out-ran and out-shot bigger but slower North Carolina.
With Keller leading numerous fast breaks and Mount bombing them in from everywhere, the Boilermakers turned a slim 39-35 halftime margin into a quick 52-43 lead with just four minutes gone in the second stanza. The issues was never in doubt after that.
Mount was particularly instrumental in this surge, going
on a rapid-fire 11 point spree shortly after intermission and continuing his hot hand until exiting at the 2:59 mark with 36 tallies.
Purdue also benefited from the ineffectiveness of North Carolina's Charley Scott. The Tar Heels versatile All-American was stymied by the winner's Herman Gilliam and finished the contest with 16 points. His poor shooting also enabled the smaller Boilermakers to sag back and pressure NC's 6-11 Rusty Clark and 6-8 Bill Bunting. Clark and Bunting scored 20 and 19 points respectively but most of their damage came in the first half or after Purdue had things safely tucked away.
Last night's winners now meet Saturday afternoon for the national championship in a rematch of the season's first game for both schools. UCLA won that one by 12 in Los Angeles.
Boston College, behind Terry Driscoll's 28 points, defeated stubborn Army to advance to the finals of the 32nd annual National Invitation Tournament.
Driscoll does it again
Driscoll, Kansas' and Louisville's most recent nemisis and the tourney's leading point-maker with 78 counters, ruined the Cadets nationally top-rated defense with his deft shooting from around the basket. Two Army defenders, Mike Gyovai and Dick Simmons, fouled out trying to stop the 6-7 All-American.
Army led at halftime 29-26 and controlled the tempo of the contest with their rugged defensive pressure until mid-way in the second half when Simmons departure, after Gyovai had already exited, gave Driscoll a near free rein underneath.
BC soon took the lead for good at 42-40 on Tom Veronneau's fielder. The margin quickly stretched after that.
10 KANSAN Mar. 21 1969
For The First Time See Scenic Lawrence
by
HELICOPTER!
this Saturday and Sunday 12-6 p.m. The Flamingo----501 N.9th
Don't Miss The Greatest Soul & Comedy Show in America
ONE NIGHT ONLY This Friday, March 21
Saturday, March 22-The Underground Jimmy Hendricks Sound of the Green River Ordinance
Admission only 25c with Lou Rawls Concert ticket stub
Advanced Ticket Sales on All Attractions at the Red Dog Office Mon.-Fri. 9:5
(Reg.19c)
SPECIAL!
Ranch Fresh—Smakin' Good
HAMBURGER
Golden brown, Krinkle-Kut
FRENCH FRIES (Reg.19c)
Choose Coke, orange, Sprite, etc.