The 1962-63 Falcons beat Loyola (Ill.), the eventual national champion, by a 92-75 score
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 3
May 26, 2010 | General, Men's Basketball
Falcons drub second-ranked Loyola as the house roars
Throughout the 2010-11 season, the BGSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will be celebrating the storied history of Anderson Arena, as we are 'Closing the Doors of the House That Roars' and preparing for the opening of the Stroh Center in the fall of 2011.
To submit a vote for the All-Anderson Team, to share your favorite memory of Anderson Arena or to keep up with the progress of the Stroh Center construction, Click Here. We will be sharing some of your fondest memories of Anderson Arena here at BGSUFalcons.com in the coming weeks and months.
Nearly 50 years ago, the BGSU men's basketball team recorded one of the biggest wins in program history, dismantling the second-ranked team in the nation. The Falcons, led by Butch Komives and Nate Thurmond, routed Loyola (Ill.), 92-75, in mid-February of 1963. The Ramblers would go on to win the NCAA championship. The great Dave Hackenberg wrote about that game in a Toledo Blade story in 2009 ...
Anderson Arena has always been “The House That Roars,” but old-timers will tell you that the noise was secondary to the humidity on those long-ago winter nights when they'd jack up the thermostat and the fire marshal would look the other way and nearly 6,000 fans would squeeze into Bowling Green's basketball arena.
The night of Feb. 16, 1963, must have been all of that and more. The attendance at what was then called Memorial Hall was announced at 5,734 and at least twice that many would later claim to have been there. Undefeated Loyola of Chicago visited BG and the Ramblers, then ranked No. 2 in the nation, were just a few weeks away from an NCAA national championship.
But BG coach Harold Anderson had 6-foot-11, 235-pound center Nate Thurmond, who averaged 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Loyola's game plan was pretty simple. Throw as many bodies at big Nate as possible, make it impossible for him to shoot, and force somebody else to do the scoring.
It's hard to imagine Loyola coach George Ireland didn't realize who that somebody else would be. Howard “Butch” Komives scored 23 points in the first half, 32 on the night, and BG dismantled the visitors 92-75.
“We didn't play especially bad, but they were very hot and they had a good team,” Loyola guard John Egan once said. “There was no fluke about it. They had Thurmond and Komives.”
And that said it all.
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Several people wrote in and shared their memories of the win over Loyola as well ...
Lynne
Loyola came to Anderson Arena undefeated and ranked number two in the country. The Falcons jumped to a big lead and maintained it throughout the game. The arena was always sold out in those days and BG had probably its greatest team ever. Loyola went on to win the NCAA championship. Two nights later the Falcons beat Notre Dame, also at the arena.
Bill
I am 71 years old, but remember the 62/63 season as if it were last year. Led by Thurmond, Komives, Chapman and Junior, BG had one of the best teams ever to play in the MAC. I especially remember the game against Loyola of Chicago, who came into Anderson undefeated. ... BG played what had to be one of the greatest games of that season, and dominated Loyola from beginning to end. Anderson was SRO and so loud, you couldn't talk to the person next to you...WHAT A GAME!!! My brother Dave was also attending BG and we went to the game together, and we still talk about it all the time.
Bill (a different Bill)
My favorite Anderson Arena memory came in 1963 when the Falcons ran Loyola (who later won the NCAA tournament) off the floor!!
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We'd love to hear about your fondest memories of Anderson Arena. Click here to share them with us, and perhaps you will see your own recollections of Anderson Arena right here at BGSUFalcons.com in the near future. Roll Along!
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CLOSING THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE THAT ROARS
A Legend's Last Words - May 6
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 1 - May 12
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 2 - May 19
To submit a vote for the All-Anderson Team, to share your favorite memory of Anderson Arena or to keep up with the progress of the Stroh Center construction, Click Here. We will be sharing some of your fondest memories of Anderson Arena here at BGSUFalcons.com in the coming weeks and months.
Nearly 50 years ago, the BGSU men's basketball team recorded one of the biggest wins in program history, dismantling the second-ranked team in the nation. The Falcons, led by Butch Komives and Nate Thurmond, routed Loyola (Ill.), 92-75, in mid-February of 1963. The Ramblers would go on to win the NCAA championship. The great Dave Hackenberg wrote about that game in a Toledo Blade story in 2009 ...
Anderson Arena has always been “The House That Roars,” but old-timers will tell you that the noise was secondary to the humidity on those long-ago winter nights when they'd jack up the thermostat and the fire marshal would look the other way and nearly 6,000 fans would squeeze into Bowling Green's basketball arena.
The night of Feb. 16, 1963, must have been all of that and more. The attendance at what was then called Memorial Hall was announced at 5,734 and at least twice that many would later claim to have been there. Undefeated Loyola of Chicago visited BG and the Ramblers, then ranked No. 2 in the nation, were just a few weeks away from an NCAA national championship.
But BG coach Harold Anderson had 6-foot-11, 235-pound center Nate Thurmond, who averaged 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Loyola's game plan was pretty simple. Throw as many bodies at big Nate as possible, make it impossible for him to shoot, and force somebody else to do the scoring.
It's hard to imagine Loyola coach George Ireland didn't realize who that somebody else would be. Howard “Butch” Komives scored 23 points in the first half, 32 on the night, and BG dismantled the visitors 92-75.
“We didn't play especially bad, but they were very hot and they had a good team,” Loyola guard John Egan once said. “There was no fluke about it. They had Thurmond and Komives.”
And that said it all.
-----------
Lynne
Loyola came to Anderson Arena undefeated and ranked number two in the country. The Falcons jumped to a big lead and maintained it throughout the game. The arena was always sold out in those days and BG had probably its greatest team ever. Loyola went on to win the NCAA championship. Two nights later the Falcons beat Notre Dame, also at the arena.
Bill
I am 71 years old, but remember the 62/63 season as if it were last year. Led by Thurmond, Komives, Chapman and Junior, BG had one of the best teams ever to play in the MAC. I especially remember the game against Loyola of Chicago, who came into Anderson undefeated. ... BG played what had to be one of the greatest games of that season, and dominated Loyola from beginning to end. Anderson was SRO and so loud, you couldn't talk to the person next to you...WHAT A GAME!!! My brother Dave was also attending BG and we went to the game together, and we still talk about it all the time.
Bill (a different Bill)
My favorite Anderson Arena memory came in 1963 when the Falcons ran Loyola (who later won the NCAA tournament) off the floor!!
-----------
We'd love to hear about your fondest memories of Anderson Arena. Click here to share them with us, and perhaps you will see your own recollections of Anderson Arena right here at BGSUFalcons.com in the near future. Roll Along!
-----------
CLOSING THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE THAT ROARS
A Legend's Last Words - May 6
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 1 - May 12
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 2 - May 19
Emme Butera Post-Match Interview (Sept. 14, 2025)
Monday, September 15
Chris Fox Post-Match Interview (Sept. 14, 2025)
Monday, September 15
Emma Stransky Post-Match Interview (Sept. 14, 2025)
Monday, September 15
BG Football Postgame 9.13 vs Liberty
Sunday, September 14