Last OT. Part 1

[SC in DC]

OK, so bball season is almost upon us, so I'll stop with my trip down memory lane with a two-parter on the March 6, 1964 edition of the Xavier News.

Headline: BEARCATS CLAW XAVIER, 94-92 (wow, that one hurt--lousy finish to my freshmen year)

"Crowd of 11,515 witnessed a game in which three officials were the main attraction. ....called a total of 56 personal fouls (before TV!) and what seemed to be a record number of walking violations, most of which were charged against Xavier.....Cincinnati didn't make a field goal in the final 6 minutes and 49 seconds. The Cats hit 20 of 23 free throws for all their points in that period of time.....The Muskies kept struggling from behind all evening and did manage to tie the score at 32-32 and 34-34. But XU never regained the upper hand. (Brian Williams had hit the first shot for our only lead 2-0) Down 94-86 with just 43 seconds on the clock, Xavier rallied on four foul tosses by Steve Thomas and a basket by Jim Bothen.....John Gorman got the rebound (of a missed free throw) and called timeout. As XU's Thomas raced up the court he was called for steps ..... The amazing Thomas pumped in 45 points (almost 50% of our scoring!) on 13 field goals and 19 for 21 free throws. He broke the Xavier record for most free throws both in one game and one season and tied the mark for most FTA in one contest."

What the XU paper didn't report was all the player scuffles, and the coaches, Ruberg and Junker going nuts on the court. Or how unruly the fans were on both sides and how 2 times XU players shot the "Bird" to the UC fans. Next day's Cincy paper said the fans were ruining this local cage season's highlight. And remember kiddies this was all before Huggy Bear!

[skyhops]

I really enjoy these stories as well as the commentary. Would have loved to see Thomas play and to score 45 points as a guard. These make me appreciate the deep basketball history at Xavier, which is why we have high expectations.

[muskieman]

Probably one of the more entertaining threads we have had in a long time. I laughed at the middle finger and player scuffles comment and note how the reaction of the papers was similar to the "Great" Crosstown brawl or Punch out of 2011.

BTW I'd like to see more of your treasurer trove

[skyhops]

Absolutely, it’s nice to know that given the bird was around for that long.

[gundun]

There were three things about that game you missed covering.
1. Steve Thomas was hurt on one of his drives to the bucket and unable to shoot his free throws. Coach had Brian Williams and Jim Bothen on the bench. A sports writer asked Ruberg who was the best FT shooter on the team and Ruby looked a stat sheet and noticed that Bothen was 10 for 10 in his career. So Ruby sent in a cold Bothen and left Williams, a pure shooter, on the bench.
2. Ron Bonham suckered punched John Gorman after a rebound to start a major "free-for-all."
and 3. Despite both sides agreeing before the game not to call call slips due to the floor being wet (the hockey ice was right under the basketball court), in the overtime Thomas took off on a fastbreak and sliped on a wet spot and call for traveling.

One other thing, UC had a player who hit his girl friend in the face the week before (I forgot his name), but the X fans kept chanting for him.

[muskieman]

There were three things about that game you missed covering.
1. Steve Thomas was hurt on one of his drives to the bucket and unable to shoot his free throws. Coach had Brian Williams and Jim Bothen on the bench. A sports writer asked Ruberg who was the best FT shooter on the team and Ruby looked a stat sheet and noticed that Bothen was 10 for 10 in his career. So Ruby sent in a cold Bothen and left Williams, a pure shooter, on the bench.
2. Ron Bonham suckered punched John Gorman after a rebound to start a major "free-for-all."
and 3. Despite both sides agreeing before the game not to call call slips due to the floor being wet (the hockey ice was right under the basketball court), in the overtime Thomas took off on a fastbreak and sliped on a wet spot and call for traveling.

One other thing, UC had a player who hit his girl friend in the face the week before (I forgot his name), but the X fans kept chanting for him.

Ahhhh the beauty of the shootout

[SC in DC]

OK Gun, I did a little more digging. First, scuffles was the term used in the XU paper--yeah brawl is more like it. Fights in the stands and outside also. Being a puny freshman I was not involved. But the game didn't go to OT, and I don't remember Steve getting hurt in the game--but respect your memory. What was reported in the UC paper was, 3 X players fouled and 2 with 4, to 1 UC player fouling out and 4 with 4! With 35 seconds left Ron Bonham (their star)got into a fight with Brian Williams (Gorman?) a slugfest which started a big melee. Bonham was ejected. Steve traveled with 10 seconds left and "UC held the ball until the end, the game closing with Cosby shoved to the floor by John Gorman, a Xavier player of little talent."

Anyway, I think the point is that the two schools have fun playing each other!!

[Anti-Homer]

There were three things about that game you missed covering.
1. Steve Thomas was hurt on one of his drives to the bucket and unable to shoot his free throws. Coach had Brian Williams and Jim Bothen on the bench. A sports writer asked Ruberg who was the best FT shooter on the team and Ruby looked a stat sheet and noticed that Bothen was 10 for 10 in his career. So Ruby sent in a cold Bothen and left Williams, a pure shooter, on the bench.
2. Ron Bonham suckered punched John Gorman after a rebound to start a major "free-for-all."
and 3. Despite both sides agreeing before the game not to call call slips due to the floor being wet (the hockey ice was right under the basketball court), in the overtime Thomas took off on a fastbreak and sliped on a wet spot and call for traveling.

One other thing, UC had a player who hit his girl friend in the face the week before (I forgot his name), but the X fans kept chanting for him.

One other thing, UC had a player who hit his girl friend in the face the week before (I forgot his name), but the X fans kept chanting for him.

Though the names and faces change through the many years of the Shootout, one constant with UC's players is the conduct of their players.....sadly.

[gundun]

SC in DC, you are right it wasn't an overtime. However, if you check the box score you will notice that Steve was hurt enough not he couldn't take his two FTS because he slipped on the wet floor and landed on his elbow. Anyway Ruby put in a cold Bothen to shoot the two FTs, and not an all-ready had been in the game guy like like Williams and Jim missed them both. The fight happen after Steve made a FT and Bonham grabbed Brian's left arm and sucker punched Brian and then Gorman, who replaced the Bird, started on Bonham. Fritzie (sp) was coming up from behind after Steve. All hell broke loose. BTW, I think the UC player that the X fans were chanting for was named Sabin.

For the record Gorman was a very good player who hurt his back early in his sophomore year.

[SC in DC]

Thanks Gun, I said I believed you--that your memory is much better than mine! Re Gorman, that was a quote from the UC paper, I remember Gorman had talent.