Bowling Green State University Athletics
FEB. 17, 1963 TOLEDO BLADE RECAP
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
Komives Hits 32 Points For Falcons
Nation’s No. 2 Team Provides No Match
By Jim Taylor
Bowling Green, O., Feb. 16-It isn’t likely that anything out of Cape Canaveral could have stopped Bowling Green tonight, so mere mortals like Loyola’s flying five lost for the first time this season, 92-75, before a standup crowd in Anderson Arena.
The Falcons exceeded even maximum effort against a club that had won 21 straight, been pushed the full distance only once and seemed destined to offer Cincinnati its strongest opposition in the NCAA championships.
Bowling Green ran faster, shot better, rebounded with greater strength, and, on this night at least, looked as good as any team in the land.
Are you listening Bearcats?
Howard (Butch) Komives, number one citizen of Bowling Green and surrounding area ripped Loyola to shreds in the first half with 23 points and ultimately wound up with 32.
Whenever it looked as if Loyola might be mustering a mild threat, Komives took charge with his clever drives and cashmere-smooth jumpers.
It wasn’t over at the half when BeeGee went off with a 47-25 lead, but Loyola never was able to cut into that margin substantially in the second half.
Big Nate Thurmond squeezed between Loyola’s Vic Rouse and Leslie Hunter on the boards, came off with 12 rebounds, slapped away several Loyola shots and found time to score 24 points, including three on dunks when he slipped under the basket all alone.
At the finish, Bowling Green was whipping the ball around the edge of Loyola’s defense, content to break a man loose for easy layups.
Coach Andy Anderson began to pull his starters, with two-and-a-half minutes to play as BeeGee’s lead climbed as high as 21 points in the late stages.
The footrace went to Bowling Green and that was the strategy Anderson had mapped out before the game. After watching the movies of the Loyola-Ohio U game, Anderson told his team to “run with them.”
And the Falcons did beat the Ramblers at what has become a trademark for them, the fast break. BeeGee often came down court with three on two and two on one situations, started mainly by the rugged rebounding of Thurmond, Junior, and Elijah Chatman.
Almost always it was Komives sweeping down the side, taking a pass and then shoveling it off into the middle, firing up the jumper or turning on a sudden burst of speed to zip past Loyola’s defenders.
Thurmond played under a heavy load of personals. The 6-11 pivot man got his third foul in the first half and then with 9:55 still to play was assessed his fourth on what turned out to be a double foul.
This hardship barely reduced his effectiveness.
BeeGee got out of the starting blocks fast in the second half and went to work to firm up its margin, which it did by getting out in front, 65-50 with 12:21 to play.
From then on the Thurmond-Komives-Haley axis wouldn’t let up and Loyola never was close.
The two teams played the first half as if the barn were burning down and they were the only water carriers for miles around. It was fast break basketball all the way and the Falcons were beating their unbeaten opponents down court in this track meet.
They were shooting better, too, and carried a 51 percent average into the second 20 minute test.
But the first half story had to be BeeGee’s great guard Butch Komives, who got them in front and kept them there with his bullseye shooting.
Komives hit nine out of 14 from the field and finished with 23 points, the fastest halftime pace since the days of Jimmy Darrow in this area.
Komives confounded Loyola’s defense by constantly switching tactics. Just when it looked as if he had to shoot the jumper, he was wheeling toward the basket on a drive. It kept the Ramblers guessing throughout the half.
Thurmond was carrying the rebound load with seven although Elijah Chatman had five.
Vic Rouse had seven for Loyola and Jerry Harkness 10 points.
Bowling Green hit it’s first five shots as the overflow crowd was settling into it’s seats.
Wavey Junior, Komives, a three-pointerby Komives and a jump by Thurmond, got BeeGee off to a 9-0 lead and the Falcons stretched this to 17 points at 27-10 with 11:12 to play.
Loyola cut it to 29-18 at 8:16 as Harkness began to score. At this point Thurmond picked up his third personal, but he finished the half without piling up anymore.
Just when they needed him most. Komives delievered again. He broke loose underneath to score on a layup, then made two free throws to send the Falcons out in front, 33-20.
With Thurmond, Komives and Junior doing the scoring, BeeGee went off at the half leading 47-35.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
Komives Hits 32 Points For Falcons
Nation’s No. 2 Team Provides No Match
By Jim Taylor
Bowling Green, O., Feb. 16-It isn’t likely that anything out of Cape Canaveral could have stopped Bowling Green tonight, so mere mortals like Loyola’s flying five lost for the first time this season, 92-75, before a standup crowd in Anderson Arena.
The Falcons exceeded even maximum effort against a club that had won 21 straight, been pushed the full distance only once and seemed destined to offer Cincinnati its strongest opposition in the NCAA championships.
Bowling Green ran faster, shot better, rebounded with greater strength, and, on this night at least, looked as good as any team in the land.
Are you listening Bearcats?
Howard (Butch) Komives, number one citizen of Bowling Green and surrounding area ripped Loyola to shreds in the first half with 23 points and ultimately wound up with 32.
Whenever it looked as if Loyola might be mustering a mild threat, Komives took charge with his clever drives and cashmere-smooth jumpers.
It wasn’t over at the half when BeeGee went off with a 47-25 lead, but Loyola never was able to cut into that margin substantially in the second half.
Big Nate Thurmond squeezed between Loyola’s Vic Rouse and Leslie Hunter on the boards, came off with 12 rebounds, slapped away several Loyola shots and found time to score 24 points, including three on dunks when he slipped under the basket all alone.
At the finish, Bowling Green was whipping the ball around the edge of Loyola’s defense, content to break a man loose for easy layups.
Coach Andy Anderson began to pull his starters, with two-and-a-half minutes to play as BeeGee’s lead climbed as high as 21 points in the late stages.
The footrace went to Bowling Green and that was the strategy Anderson had mapped out before the game. After watching the movies of the Loyola-Ohio U game, Anderson told his team to “run with them.”
And the Falcons did beat the Ramblers at what has become a trademark for them, the fast break. BeeGee often came down court with three on two and two on one situations, started mainly by the rugged rebounding of Thurmond, Junior, and Elijah Chatman.
Almost always it was Komives sweeping down the side, taking a pass and then shoveling it off into the middle, firing up the jumper or turning on a sudden burst of speed to zip past Loyola’s defenders.
Thurmond played under a heavy load of personals. The 6-11 pivot man got his third foul in the first half and then with 9:55 still to play was assessed his fourth on what turned out to be a double foul.
This hardship barely reduced his effectiveness.
BeeGee got out of the starting blocks fast in the second half and went to work to firm up its margin, which it did by getting out in front, 65-50 with 12:21 to play.
From then on the Thurmond-Komives-Haley axis wouldn’t let up and Loyola never was close.
The two teams played the first half as if the barn were burning down and they were the only water carriers for miles around. It was fast break basketball all the way and the Falcons were beating their unbeaten opponents down court in this track meet.
They were shooting better, too, and carried a 51 percent average into the second 20 minute test.
But the first half story had to be BeeGee’s great guard Butch Komives, who got them in front and kept them there with his bullseye shooting.
Komives hit nine out of 14 from the field and finished with 23 points, the fastest halftime pace since the days of Jimmy Darrow in this area.
Komives confounded Loyola’s defense by constantly switching tactics. Just when it looked as if he had to shoot the jumper, he was wheeling toward the basket on a drive. It kept the Ramblers guessing throughout the half.
Thurmond was carrying the rebound load with seven although Elijah Chatman had five.
Vic Rouse had seven for Loyola and Jerry Harkness 10 points.
Bowling Green hit it’s first five shots as the overflow crowd was settling into it’s seats.
Wavey Junior, Komives, a three-pointerby Komives and a jump by Thurmond, got BeeGee off to a 9-0 lead and the Falcons stretched this to 17 points at 27-10 with 11:12 to play.
Loyola cut it to 29-18 at 8:16 as Harkness began to score. At this point Thurmond picked up his third personal, but he finished the half without piling up anymore.
Just when they needed him most. Komives delievered again. He broke loose underneath to score on a layup, then made two free throws to send the Falcons out in front, 33-20.
With Thurmond, Komives and Junior doing the scoring, BeeGee went off at the half leading 47-35.