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Forty Years Ago Today

12/01/02
by John C. Thomas

Saturday, December 1, 1962 vs. Christian Brothers at Alumni Gym

Twenty-six hundred and thirteen fans showed up to support the Ramblers in the first game of the season at Alumni Gym-about a hundred more than seating capacity. The team responded sluggishly in their first game, with a slow start that must have surprised the team and caused some doubt in the crowded rafters.

Seven minutes into the game the Christian Brothers Bucs trailed by only six points-not what one would expect from a match up with a supposedly weakling team against the team that led the NCAA in scoring the year before. And the Ramblers were playing before a packed, fired-up opening night crowd in their own gym.

But in what would become a habit over the year, Loyola turned on the jets over the next four minutes in the contest, racing out to a lead of 32-17 and closing out the half with a 40-23 advantage.

After building a comfortable margin, Coach Ireland substituted often, playing all 12 players in the game. Even in spite of the heavy minutes by subs, the Ramblers won the game going away, 114 to 58, with scoring spread all over the place. Every starter scored in double figures-- led by Harkness with 21-and Loyola out-boarded the Bucs 65-40. Significantly, the bench had 31 points, led by Earl Johnson with nine points and four rebounds.