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Horizon Connection
Forty Years Ago Today
12/03/02
by John C. ThomasMonday, December 3, 1962 vs. North Dakota at Alumni Gym
North Dakota played Loyola early in the season in 1961-62, and the Ramblers could never quite shake the team that was supposed to be a lightweight opponent. The Ramblers barely escaped with a 96-73 win that was much closer than the final score. Even the young Ramblers of 1961-62-- a team composed of four sophomores and a junior-- was supposed to run North Dakota out of the gym.
The more mature 1962-63 Ramblers remembered their close encounter with the Sioux from a year before, and did not leave anything to chance. After both teams started slow, Loyola went on a 23-3 run over a five-minute period in the middle of the first half, and held a commanding 52-28 lead at the break.
Les Hunter exploded, hitting 11 of 13 shots against the Sioux, and leading all scorers with 25 points. Hunter was also a major factor in Loyola's 61-40 rebounding edge, clearing seven boards. Rouse led the Ramblers off the glass with 12 rebounds.
Future All-American, New York Knicks Star, and NBA Coach Phil Jackson wouldn't bring his left-handed hook shot to the Sioux frosh team until the following year. But even Jackson's heroics never brought the Sioux a single NCAA appearance or AP ranking.
The crowd favorite that night was Loyola's pint-sized 5'9", 142-pound sophomore reserve point guard Pablo Robertson from New York City. The future Globetrotter scored 10 points off the bench and wowed the crowd with his dribbling prowess. In the days before the shot clock, that was a very valuable asset to have.