12/26/1950

CANISIUS EDGES WILDCAT QUINTET, 55 TO 52

Late Arizona Rally Falls Short of Win

Leo Johnson, Howell Pace Cats With 10 Points; Halftime Edge Was 29-25 Canisius; Meet CCNY at Gardens Thursday

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 26 — (AP) — Canisius handed Arizona its first defeat of the season, surviving a desperate late rally to win, 55 to 52, in the feature of a Memorial Auditorium basketball doubleheader. Connecticut turned back Buffalo, 61 to 55, in the opener.

Don Hartnett, Canisius’ leading scorer, again set the pace with 12 points as the Golden Griffins scored their eighth victory in nine starts. A crowd of 6,266 was on hand.

Stretch Big Lead
Hartnett contributed three baskets to a rally which saw the Griffs break away from a 35-all tied to a 52-36 lead with six minutes left.

The Wildcats, who had won six games, then staged a counter-offensive. Dave Schuff and Roger Johnson tallied five and four points, respectively, during the drive. Jack Howell and Leo Johnson were Arizona’s high men for the night with 10 points each.

Connecticut’s victory was its ninth in 10 starts.

The Wildcats proved as popular and crowd pleasing a club as the record had indicated. The game was a rapidly moving affair which found both teams running putting on the fast break until Canisius went into a freeze which almost proved disastrous for the home forces.

This is the manner in which the Wildcats struck back. Schuff, a driving player, started off by whipping through a tally from underneath. Bob Honea followed by making one of two free throws. The foul forced Herman Hedderick out of the game. He was the third to leave. Leo Johnson of Arizona having been ruled out on five just before Hartnett left.

Johnson Scores
Roger Johnson flung up an outside shot, and Sid Kain tapped a rebound. Giving the Wildcats a string of seven points.

Frank Pleto interrupted with a free throw, which was matched by Schuff. Bob Stoetzel stretched Canisius’ lead to 11 points by scoring from short range.

Then the Wildcats rattled off eight straight points, a full-court press bothering the Griffs and enabling Arizona to steal the ball.

Howell hit from quartercourt, and Roger Johnson flung two free throws. Schuff stole the leather and went in unmolested, and Bob Honea meshed a deuce from the side. With the crowd going frantic, Honea fouled Bucky Illig with two seconds to go, attempting to gain possession. The shot was missed, but the distance proved too great for the Wildcats to score again.

Roger Johnson, a cast removed from his hand, was able to play for the Wildcats, although he did not start.