1/27/1950

ARIZONA RACES TO 67-57 WIN OVER GAELS

Blevins Registers 23 Points, Penner 21; Crowd Of 12,579 Is Cow Palace's Biggest

By Hal Wood

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28. (U.P.)—The racehorse University of Arizona basketball team won its 14th game in 15 starts here last night as it whipped an inept St. Mary's quintet, 67-57, at the Cow Palace. The game was the second half of a twin bill that attracted a record-breaking 12,579 fans who braved a torrential rain to see the west’s top quintets in action.

In the opener the University of San Francisco Dons pulled one of the longest stalls in recorded basketball history to defeat University of Southern California, 55-41.

The Wildcats were led to their victory by the hotshot scoring of skinny Forward Leon Blevins, who scored 23 points and towering Center Paul Penner, who connected for 21. Blevins’ 23 points put him in a six-way tie for 16th place in the all-time Cow Palace individual scoring records. The top mark is held by Joe McNamee of USF wIth 38 points.

Starts Like Walkaway

Arizona started the game as if it was going to be a walkaway. It ran up a 7-0 edge in the first five minutes of play as Blevins and Roger Johnson connected consistently. Penner started hitting his onehanded overhead shots and midway in the first period the count was 17-10 with Len Dixon, colored St. Mary's guard, keeping the Gaels in the running.

It was here that the Gaels rallied to bring the count to the closest it ever got all evening. Dixon, Guard Bob Steinkamp and Center Joe Thurston connected with successive baskets and with less than one minute to play before the half the Wildcats held only a one-point margin at 24-23. Bruce Larson hit for two points from the field and Jim Dunlap dunked a free throw to give Arizona a 27-23 edge at the interission.

At the start of the second half it was nip and tuck. Dlxon hit from the field to pull the Gaels up to 27-25, but that was as close as the Gaels got for some time.

Defense Check Helps

Blevins started connecting on his angle shots and after five minutes Arizona held a 36-28 lead. The Gaels closed the gap again, and when it was 45-42, Arizona took time out to check their defense. It was all the Wildcats needed. They had complete control of the situation from there on in.

A short time later Roger Johnson pulled the most spectacular play of the game when he dribbled the full length of the court through the center of the entire St. Mary's team to go in for a setup two points. He was fouled and knocked flat on his back but got up and tanked the free throw. Those three points cinched the game for the Wildcats, giving them a 10-point lead at 54-44.

Arizona put a semi-stall on then, forcing the St. Mary's defense to come way out with the result the Wildcats' shotmakers raced in for easy setups.