Villanova Survives Detroit Rally, 88–86, in NIT Opener
Raveling’s Late Free Throws Seal Wildcat Victory; Liberatore Sparks Key Run
NEW YORK, March 10 — Villanova’s Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the 23rd National Invitation Tournament by the narrowest of margins Thursday night, outlasting a furious Detroit comeback to claim an 88–86 victory before 12,488 fans at Madison Square Garden. What appeared early to be a comfortable Main Line march turned instead into a frantic scramble that was not settled until the final seconds.
The Wildcats, who will meet Utah State Saturday afternoon in a nationally televised contest, owed their survival to two men: Bob Liberatore, the junior reserve who ignited a decisive second‑half surge, and George Raveling, the senior captain whose two pressure‑packed free throws with 21 seconds remaining provided the final cushion.
Detroit Refuses to Fold
Villanova led by as many as 17 points at 68–51 and still held a 10‑point margin with 2:30 left, but Detroit—playing in its first major tournament—found its stride late. The Titans, sparked by the brilliant outside shooting of Charley North, who scored a game‑high 33 points, and the steady work of Dave DeBusschere, whittled the lead to 86–84 in the closing half‑minute.
A steal and layup by Frank Chickowski, followed by a DeBusschere jumper and two free throws by Larry Hughes, set off a four‑alarm rally that had the Garden crowd roaring. Only when Raveling stepped to the line and calmly sank two underhanded foul shots did Villanova finally regain its balance.
Detroit had one last chance, but a hurried backcourt heave by substitute Tom Villemure struck the backboard harmlessly as the horn sounded.
Liberatore’s Spark Turns the Tide
The Wildcats’ earlier control of the game was due largely to Liberatore, who entered when Jimmy Huggard picked up his fourth foul with 17:31 remaining. The Bristol junior immediately drilled an outside jumper, then scored five straight points, including a three‑point play on a long jumper while being fouled.
His burst launched an eight‑point Villanova run, stretching the lead to 56–45. In the next five minutes, Liberatore, Hubie White, Dick Kaminski, and Raveling combined to push the margin to 68–51, the Wildcats’ largest of the night.
White and Kaminski each finished with 23 points, matching their season-long scoring punch.
Titans Battle Back
Detroit, which had briefly taken two first‑half leads behind North’s sharp shooting, refused to fold. DeBusschere, held to 20 points by Villanova’s zone, hit a late jumper, Hughes added two free throws, and Ray Albee connected from outside as the Titans mounted their final charge.
But the Wildcats, who had squandered earlier eight‑point cushions in the first half, steadied themselves just long enough. Raveling’s first free throw was a perfect swish; the second bounced high off the rim before dropping through, giving Villanova the breathing room it desperately needed.
Wildcats Advance
Villanova’s 20th victory of the season sends the Wildcats into Saturday’s quarterfinals with renewed confidence—and a reminder of how quickly a Garden game can turn. Detroit, now 20–7, exits the tournament with its reputation enhanced and its future bright.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, move on, grateful for the steady hand of their captain and the unexpected heroics of a reserve who seized his moment under the brightest lights in college basketball.
Courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer March 11, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Providence Edges Memphis State, 71–70, in NIT Thriller
Friars Overcome 14‑Point Deficit; Wilkens Scores 28 to Lead Rally
NEW YORK, March 10 — Providence College staged one of the most stirring comebacks of the National Invitation Tournament’s opening night, erasing a 14‑point first‑half deficit and then holding off a furious Memphis State rally to claim a 71–70 victory before 12,488 excited fans at Madison Square Garden.
The Friars, backed by a large and vocal New England contingent, appeared in trouble early as Memphis State controlled the boards and the tempo. But Providence’s poised guard tandem of Lenny Wilkens and John Egan gradually turned the game around, combining for 51 points and carrying the Friars into Saturday’s quarterfinals against St. Louis.
Tigers Start Fast, Friars Answer Slowly
Memphis State, showing none of the nerves that sometimes accompany a first Garden appearance, jumped to a commanding lead late in the first half. Behind the steady shooting of Gene Wilfong, Wayne Yates, Skip Wolfe, and captain George Price, the Tigers built a 14‑point margin and seemed ready to control the evening.
Providence, however, chipped away methodically. Egan’s outside shooting steadied the Friars, and Wilkens began to find his rhythm just before halftime. Memphis State still led at the break, but the Friars had narrowed the gap enough to set the stage for a tight second half.
Wilkens Takes Over
The turning point came midway through the final period when Wilkens, one of three Black starters on the Providence squad, delivered a remarkable personal run. He scored 14 consecutive points for the Friars, breaking a 59–59 tie and pushing Providence ahead 62–59 with five minutes remaining.
Moments earlier, Memphis State had suffered a blow when Price fouled out, removing its most experienced scorer and floor leader. Even so, the Tigers refused to fold.
Memphis State’s Late Rally Falls Just Short
After Providence stretched its lead to 66–60 on a basket by 6‑10 center James Hadnot, the Tigers mounted a determined comeback. Wolfe drove in for a layup, Wilfong hit from long range, and Yates scored on a rebound to pull Memphis State within two at 68–66.
Wilkens added a free throw with 1:29 left, but the Tigers still had life. Yates scored again with 19 seconds remaining to make it 69–68. Seconds later, Wilfong fouled out while battling for a loose ball, and Egan calmly sank two free throws for a 71–68 Providence lead.
Yates scored once more with six seconds left, but the Tigers could not stop the clock in time to attempt another shot. The final seconds ticked away with the ball bouncing out of bounds beneath the Memphis State basket.
Balanced Effort Not Enough for Tigers
Memphis State finished with five more field goals than Providence (30 to 25) and placed four men in double figures:
- Wilfong — 16
- Yates — 15
- Price — 14
- Wolfe — 11
But the Tigers were unable to convert key possessions in the closing minutes, and their early foul trouble proved costly.
Providence, meanwhile, leaned heavily on its guards. Wilkens led all scorers with 28, while Egan added 23. Hadnot contributed timely rebounding and interior defense as the Friars completed their comeback.
A Game of Narrow Margins
Both teams played well enough to win, but Providence made the decisive plays in the final minutes. Memphis State, which lost the 1957 NIT final by a single point, again found itself on the wrong end of a one‑point decision.
Providence now advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round, while Memphis State exits the tournament with its effort admired but its hopes once more dashed by the slimmest of margins.
Courtesy of The Commercial Appeal March 11, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Dayton Rolls Past Temple, 72–51, to Reach NIT Quarterfinals
Case Leads Flyers; Temple Off Target in First‑Round Defeat
NEW YORK, March 12 — Dayton advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament Saturday night with a convincing 72–51 victory over Temple before 12,488 at Madison Square Garden. The Flyers controlled the game from the opening minutes, capitalizing on sharp free‑throw shooting, superior rebounding, and a balanced scoring attack to earn a Tuesday meeting with top‑seeded Bradley.
Dayton’s floor general Frank Case directed the offense with confidence and finished with 17 points, while sophomores Tom Hatton and Gary Roggenburk added 14 and 13, respectively. Coach Tom Blackburn was able to clear his bench in the final minutes as the Flyers stretched their lead to 18 points with more than four minutes remaining.
Temple Struggles to Find Its Rhythm
Temple, which entered the tournament with hopes of rekindling its proud NIT history, never found consistent scoring. The Owls shot just 18-for-72 from the field and were unable to solve Dayton’s man‑to‑man defense, which switched effectively and limited second‑chance opportunities.
Bill “Pickles” Kennedy, Temple’s leading scorer at 22.8 points per game, was held to 12, as Dayton’s Bill Cramsey and Stanley Greenberg shared the defensive assignment. Center Russ Gordon, Temple’s most reliable offensive threat on this night, contributed 11 points, but foul trouble and Dayton’s size advantage kept him from controlling the lane.
Flyers Control the Boards
Dayton dominated the glass 63–43, with Roggenburk collecting 19 rebounds, many of them on the defensive end. The Flyers’ height and positioning repeatedly denied Temple follow‑up shots, forcing the Owls to rely on long jumpers that seldom fell.
The Flyers also excelled at the foul line, converting 22 of 24, including a perfect 14-for-14 in the second half. Temple, meanwhile, could not match Dayton’s efficiency from either the field or the stripe.
Early Temple Rally Falls Short
Dayton opened the scoring on Hatton’s long set shot and built an early 15–7 lead behind a six‑point burst from Case. Temple responded with a defensive adjustment, shifting into a 2‑1‑2 zone that helped trim the margin to 26–25.
Blackburn countered with timely substitutions, inserting Pat Allen and Greenberg to steady the Flyers. Dayton closed the half with six straight points to take a 36–27 lead into the locker room.
Flyers Pull Away
Temple never mounted a sustained threat after intermission. Dayton extended its lead to 15 within four minutes of the second half, and although the Flyers endured a brief scoring lull midway through the period, Temple could not capitalize. The Owls’ shooting woes persisted, and Dayton’s depth and rebounding strength gradually widened the gap.
Gordon fouled out with 1:51 remaining, but by then the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Looking Ahead
The victory avenged Dayton’s loss to Temple in the 1957 NIT quarterfinals and sends the Flyers into a challenging matchup with Bradley, the tournament’s No. 1 seed and one of the nation’s most consistent teams.
Courtesy of The Dayton Daily News March 13, 1960 via Newspapers.com
St. Bonaventure Outlasts Holy Cross, 94–81, in NIT First Round
Stith Brothers Combine for 52; Foley Scores 36 in Losing Effort
NEW YORK, March 12 — St. Bonaventure earned a place in the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals Saturday afternoon with a 94–81 victory over Holy Cross before 14,337 at Madison Square Garden. The game remained even through a fast‑paced first half, but the Bonnies broke away after intermission behind the scoring of brothers Tom and Sam Stith, who combined for 52 points.
The Crusaders, paced by the remarkable shooting of Jack “The Shot” Foley, stayed level at 41–41 at halftime and trailed by only two early in the second period. But St. Bonaventure’s depth, rebounding, and ability to attack Holy Cross’s shifting defenses gradually widened the margin.
The victory was the Bonnies’ 17th straight, extending a school record and improving their season mark to 20–3. They advance to face St. John’s of Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Holy Cross Starts Fast Behind Foley
Holy Cross opened sharply, using a 2–3 zone and three quick baskets by Foley to take an 11–6 lead. Foley, who finished with 36 points on 16‑for‑26 shooting, repeatedly found openings along the baseline and from mid‑range. The Crusaders shot an impressive 19‑for‑31 in the first half, matching the Bonnies basket for basket.
St. Bonaventure, missing injured forward Ed Petrovick for the third straight game, adjusted by shifting Sam Stith to the front line. Sam responded with 27 points, hitting 12 of 16 from the field and keeping the Bonnies even during Tom’s quiet first half.
Tom Stith Ignites Second‑Half Surge
All‑American Tom Stith, slowed recently by the flu, scored only six points in the opening 20 minutes. But he emerged revitalized after halftime, scoring 19 points in the second half and sparking a 53‑point team outburst.
He opened the half with five straight points—a pair of free throws and a three‑point play off a steal—to give the Bonnies early momentum. Holy Cross briefly closed to 52–50, but St. Bonaventure responded with a series of drives, mid‑range shots, and free throws to rebuild the lead.
From that point forward, the Crusaders never came closer than five.
Balanced Bonnies Pull Away
St. Bonaventure’s supporting cast played a major role in the win:
- Whitey Martin scored 19 and handled the ball against the Crusaders’ alternating defenses.
- Bill Connery, coming off the bench, added 14 and provided key baskets during the second‑half run.
- Orrie Jirele, a 6‑foot sophomore, contributed 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while also leading the team with several steals.
The Bonnies shot 38‑for‑78 (48.7%), while Holy Cross finished 36‑for‑69 (52.2%). The Crusaders held a narrow 47–46 rebounding edge, led by Ralph Brandt’s 13, but Brandt fouled out with 7:20 remaining.
Crusaders Fight to the End
Holy Cross stayed within striking distance until the final minutes. George Blaney scored 17, including two late drives that cut the margin to 82–77. But St. Bonaventure answered with nine straight points—baskets by both Stiths, three free throws by Sam, and a fast‑break layup by Jirele—to put the game out of reach.
The Crusaders closed their season at 20–6, having battled one of the tournament’s hottest teams for more than 30 minutes before finally yielding.
Courtesy of The Buffalo Courier Express March 13, 1960 via Newspapers.com