First March “Not-So-Mad-in-1939” Champs

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First March “Not-So-Mad-in-1939” Champs

March 14, 2016

March 27, 1939: Oregon (dark uniforms) fights off Ohio State, 46-33, to become first NCAA college basketball tournament champion.

Some reports on Oregon, the first NCAA Division One basketball champions of 1939, applauded them for their 6’2″ superior average height – an advantage that still allowed them to take the court with enough speed and athleticism to handle the field. Here’s how one Associated Press report handled the first tournament championship game played on the campus of Northwestern University before 5,000 fans in Evanston, Illinois on March 27, 1939. – The final score was Oregon 46 – Ohio State 33.

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Oregon Thumps Ohio State, 46-33, for NCAA Cage Championship

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WEBFOOTS GET AWAY TO SIX-POINT LEAD AND STAY IN FRONT

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Superior Ball Handling, Good Basket Eyes Find Bucks Bringing Up Rear.

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Evanston, Ill (AP) – The University of Oregon, displaying superior ball handling and shooting ability, defeated Ohio State, 46 to 33, in the Northwestern university gym for the national basketball championship of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The Webfoots connected for six points before the Buckeyes found the range and the west coast five was never headed after that. The Bucks, handicapped by the height of Oregon and the fancy floorwork of their foes never were able to tie the score.

The Webfoots delighted the 5,000 spectators with their almost magical handling of the ball on the offensive. On defense, they were just as alert, seldom giving Ohio State more than one shot at the ball before regaining possession of the ball.

Winners Stall.

Ohio State remained within sight of the Oregon five until the last ten minutes of the game when the Webfoots had run a 34 to 25 lead. Thereafter Oregon breezed along with stalling tactics that precluded any sustained rally by the Big Ten Champions.

Scoring honors for the winners were rather evenly divided, with John Dick hitting for 13, Captain Bob Anet and Lauren Gale for ten each and Wally Johansen nine points.

Hull, leading scorer of the Big Ten and mainstay of the Buckeye attack all season, played brilliant ball, but on offense was held to 12 points, five under his average for the other Ohio (State) games this season. Bob Lynch and Bill Sattler were next for the Ohioans with seven points each.

Box Score:

OREGON	FG	FT	F	PTS	OHIO STATE	FG	FT	F	PTS
Gale F	3	4	0	10	Hull F	5	2	2	12
Dick F	4	5	3	13	Baker F	0	0	0	0
Wintermute C	2	0	1	4	Stafford F	0	0	0	0
Anet G	4	2	3	10	Shick C	1	0	1	2
Johansen G	4	1	1	9	Sattler C	3	1	0	7
Pavalunus G	0	0	0	0	Lynch G	3	1	3	7
Mullen G	0	0	0	0	Boughner G	1	0	0	2
					Dawson G	1	0	4	2
					Mickelson G	0	0	2	0
					Maag G	0	0	0	0
					Scott G	0	1	1	1
TOTALS	17	12	8	46	TOTALS	14	5	13	33