Friday, December 3
University of California, Riverside
40
vs
98
Pepperdine
Photo by: Press Enterprise Archives
PRESS-ENTERPRISE: Highlanders Fall To Waves In First-Ever Intercollegiate Game For UCR
12/4/1954 9:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—It's the start that's the hardest. UCR's basketball team discovered this last night as it took a 98-40 trouncing at the hands of a classy Pepperdine College quintet in the first intercollegiate game played by the Highlanders (Box Score).
Things won't be nearly so tough tonight (or at any time during the remainder of the season) when the UCRans meet La Verne College in the Highlander gymnasium. The Leopards, nor any of the other foes on the slate, won't be pushovers—but none are expected to be in Pepperdine's class.
The Waves, Coach Duck Dowell said, are stronger this year than in any of his previous six seasons at the helm of the Los Angeles institution.
Three-Time Spoiler
During Dowell's tenure Pepperdine has had the privilege of helping dedicate three gymnasiums—and each time the Waves have won. The other two "victims" were Fresno State and Pomona-Claremont.
Actually the outclassed Highlanders made quite an impression early in the game last night, despite the final score. They fought the Waves to an 8-8 standoff in the first five minutes, and generally gave the 1,000 first-nighters who braved scattered showers to attend, a real show.
But as the game progressed, Pepperdine's superior experience and talent slowly but surely told. The inexperienced Highlanders commenced making mistakes and the Waves built up their lead. At the finish the Waves were pouring in several baskets a minute.
UCR Smartly Coaches
Even in defeat, the UCR team, smartly coached by Frank Lindeburg, showed more than a little promise. True the Highlanders don't have many real basketballers on hand, but the ones they have provided lots for the eager UCR rooters to cheer about.
Both coaches stripped the benches during the encounter and this undoubtedly worked in favor of Pepperdine. To illustrate, earlier this week Dowell was forced to cut two letterman off his squad because of overall depth.
For UCR the steady play of Bob Porter, who fouled out midway in the second half; Jack Sauls, who missed part of the game because of a cut eye; Wayne Saffel and Dwain Lewis was outstanding. George Harper, lanky pivot man, showed flashes of potential.
After the sterling start the UCRans fell back, slowly but surely, until they were on the shy side of a 39-18 halftime count. Then in the second half they rallied again, pulling six points early in the going and holding their gains for about seven minutes. Then the roof caved in.
Full Court Press
The Waves, with the regulars on the floor, employed a full-court press that left the inexperienced UCR men breathless. They could not move the ball up the floor and the scoring tempo by Pepperdine perked up rapidly.
Swing Unavailable
The Highlanders obviously missed the experienced aid of Dave Swing, the off-again, on-again guard from San Bernardino Valley College. He has definitely, apparently, decided not to play. Earlier this week he dropped from basketball but returned a day later before finally tossing in the sponge in favor of concentrating upon his studies.
UCR fans were happy to note that their varsity wasn't conceding anything to their potent opponents. The UCRans scrapped hard for the rebounds and more than held their own in the typical collegiate-style bumping under the buckets.
It was 54-33 with 11 minutes to play; 69-35 with eight minutes remaining;' 76-38 at five minutes; and 88-38 as the two minute point was reached on the snappy scoreboard timepiece.
Pepperdine, spurred on by a small but active rooting section, was grasping for the 100-point mark at the final buzzer.
Ability to cash in on free throws proved to be the salvation for UCR. Lindeburg's charges pushed home 22 of their 38 charity attempts to produce more than half their points.
Lewis led the losers with 12 points while Porter and Saffel produced six each. Pepperdine didn't have a single standout scorer since all 12 men hooped at least two points. Forward Bill Barnes had 15, center Ermine Zappa 14, and both Larry Dugan and Gus Rischer, the latter a former March Air Force Base cager, a dozen each.
Things won't be nearly so tough tonight (or at any time during the remainder of the season) when the UCRans meet La Verne College in the Highlander gymnasium. The Leopards, nor any of the other foes on the slate, won't be pushovers—but none are expected to be in Pepperdine's class.
The Waves, Coach Duck Dowell said, are stronger this year than in any of his previous six seasons at the helm of the Los Angeles institution.
Three-Time Spoiler
During Dowell's tenure Pepperdine has had the privilege of helping dedicate three gymnasiums—and each time the Waves have won. The other two "victims" were Fresno State and Pomona-Claremont.
Actually the outclassed Highlanders made quite an impression early in the game last night, despite the final score. They fought the Waves to an 8-8 standoff in the first five minutes, and generally gave the 1,000 first-nighters who braved scattered showers to attend, a real show.
But as the game progressed, Pepperdine's superior experience and talent slowly but surely told. The inexperienced Highlanders commenced making mistakes and the Waves built up their lead. At the finish the Waves were pouring in several baskets a minute.
UCR Smartly Coaches
Even in defeat, the UCR team, smartly coached by Frank Lindeburg, showed more than a little promise. True the Highlanders don't have many real basketballers on hand, but the ones they have provided lots for the eager UCR rooters to cheer about.
Both coaches stripped the benches during the encounter and this undoubtedly worked in favor of Pepperdine. To illustrate, earlier this week Dowell was forced to cut two letterman off his squad because of overall depth.
For UCR the steady play of Bob Porter, who fouled out midway in the second half; Jack Sauls, who missed part of the game because of a cut eye; Wayne Saffel and Dwain Lewis was outstanding. George Harper, lanky pivot man, showed flashes of potential.
After the sterling start the UCRans fell back, slowly but surely, until they were on the shy side of a 39-18 halftime count. Then in the second half they rallied again, pulling six points early in the going and holding their gains for about seven minutes. Then the roof caved in.
Full Court Press
The Waves, with the regulars on the floor, employed a full-court press that left the inexperienced UCR men breathless. They could not move the ball up the floor and the scoring tempo by Pepperdine perked up rapidly.
Swing Unavailable
The Highlanders obviously missed the experienced aid of Dave Swing, the off-again, on-again guard from San Bernardino Valley College. He has definitely, apparently, decided not to play. Earlier this week he dropped from basketball but returned a day later before finally tossing in the sponge in favor of concentrating upon his studies.
UCR fans were happy to note that their varsity wasn't conceding anything to their potent opponents. The UCRans scrapped hard for the rebounds and more than held their own in the typical collegiate-style bumping under the buckets.
It was 54-33 with 11 minutes to play; 69-35 with eight minutes remaining;' 76-38 at five minutes; and 88-38 as the two minute point was reached on the snappy scoreboard timepiece.
Pepperdine, spurred on by a small but active rooting section, was grasping for the 100-point mark at the final buzzer.
Ability to cash in on free throws proved to be the salvation for UCR. Lindeburg's charges pushed home 22 of their 38 charity attempts to produce more than half their points.
Lewis led the losers with 12 points while Porter and Saffel produced six each. Pepperdine didn't have a single standout scorer since all 12 men hooped at least two points. Forward Bill Barnes had 15, center Ermine Zappa 14, and both Larry Dugan and Gus Rischer, the latter a former March Air Force Base cager, a dozen each.
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