Lamar University - Cardinal Yearbook (Beaumont, TX)

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Basketball, I96I -62 LSC Co-Champions Y- Lamar Tech's 1961-62 Basketball team, Lone Star Conference Co-champions. Kneeling, left to right, Robert Willie Williams, Weldon l-ligginbotham, Robert Perry, Richard Smith, Ronnie Rucker, James Barrum, Howard Stahl, manager, Standing, left to right, Jack Martin, head coach, Carrol Aulbaugh, Jerry Parker, Wesley Newman, George Zurenda, Larry Augsburger, Billy Tubbs, assistant coach. Picked to finish in the second division after losing four starters from the 1960-61 Lone Star Conference champion- ship team, the Lamar Tech cagers surprised everyone by coming up with a 13-1 league mark to tie for first place with Howard Payne. Senior james Barrum repeated on the All-LSC team while sophomore Richard Smith, one of the brightest pros- pects ever to play in the Lone Star Conference, garnered first team honors as a forward. The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Southwest Re- gional tournament at Jonesboro, Ark., and saw their hopes for a regional title tumble as they lost the opener by a one point margin, but then roared back in the second game to overwhelm Abilene Christian College for the consolation championship. Smith was named to the first team, All- Tournament squad. Three individual team records were set- by the 1961-62 team, five team standards and four McDonald Gym records. Smith d 45 ' ' ' ' score points against Sul Ross in Alpine for one mark and hit 15 of 17 free throw attempts in the same game for a second record. Larry Augsburger hit 608 per cent of his field goal attempts in conference play for the third indi- vidual record. The team scored 2,257 marks in season play for one new t d d s an ar 3 hit 830 field goals for another, tossed in 128 points against Sam Houston for a third mark, and scored 50 field goals against Sul Ross for a fourth. The final record came against Arlington State when Tech pulled down 74 rebounds. McDonald Gymnasium records were 128 points against Sam H ' 0 ' ' ouston, 2 4 total points in the Sam Houston gameg and a 52 point margin of victory over Sam Houston' and 3 Wesley Newmanls 22 rebounds against Arlington State, tying one record. Posting a 20-8 season record, Tech lost six of the games by a grand total of 14 points. Northeast Louisiana dropped Tech by a one point margin, University of Southwestern Louisiana won by three points, Texas ASLM edged the Cardinals by four points, University of Houston had a tw0- point overtime victory, Arkansas State escaped with a one point margin' and Oklahoma St t , a e managed to down Tech by three points. Graduating members of the team are Barrum first team a d d gu r g an Wesley Newman, first team center. ,Returning starters are Smith at forward, Willie Williams at guard and Larry Augsburger at forward. C in ai 25 d tl fi II ti g, Zi bi P tr S4 st V S ti Gm o If vi sn h st a If e o

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Ralph Stone with his trophy as Most Valuable Player in The T961 Tangerine Bowl. 441' M? KVI N. H A' 5 T T ,,, H-. XV!-. - X, ww ff 4 4 . f-Prw ' ' i f , 1' V, KX Q-m1 'f? f ' ,. ST 's -f ,, . fl- ' Wfwyw 1,.a,s, Tackle Ray Buflingion l68l moves To help Winclell H lmrt ll5l elulf Middle Tennessee guard Ronnie Camp Dr. McDonald and Coach I-HQ' gins discuss Lamar's Tangerine Bowl trophy.

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Lamar Wins Overtime Thriller Cards 0pen Season on Road Two wins and a loss were racked up by Lamar Tech as the Cardinals opened the 1961-62 basketball season on the road. Fell- ing the North Texas State University Eagles, 70-50, in Denton and the Arlington State Rebels, 77-60, at Arlington, the Redbirds then met Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., and the first defeat of the season. After scaring the Cowpokes and leading 29-26 at halftime, Lamar Tech suffered an eight minute field goal drought and lost a close one 54-51 before a crowd of 5,000. UH Wins in Overtime,72-70 Returning to their home court in Beaumont, the Cardinals met the University of Houston and lost a heartbreaker in over- time, 72-70. Lamar led 32-31 at halftime, but the Cougars adjusted their game in the second half to meet the Cardinals' pressing defense and moved to a 10 point advantage over the Cardinals. The lead began to vanish as James Barrum, Richard Smith and jerry Parker zeroed-in on the basket. The Redbirds overtook the Hous- ton quint in the fading seconds and as the final gun sounded, the score was deadlocked 61-61. Houston was ahead 72-68 with only seconds remaining in the overtime period when a jump shot by Wesley Newman brought Lamar within two points, 72-70. Richard Smith fired a parting shot for the Cardinals, but officials ruled time had run out before the ball got into the air. Redbirds Dump lndians,88-78 Four players scored in double figures for Lamar Tech as the Cardinals defeated the Northeast Louisiana State Indians, 88-78, in Beaumont. Leading all the way, the Redbirds had a scare when the Indians narrowed the gap to 60-58 with nine minutes remaining. Catching fire again, the Cardinals went on to win 88-78. Wesley Newman, James Barrum, Richard Smith and Willie Williams scored 20, 18 and 17 points respectively for Lamar. l The Cardinals won another thriller, 78-70, in overtime against the North Texas State University Eagles in a return match in Beaumont. The score was tied five times and the lead changed hands seven times before the Cardinals took a 34-28 halftime advantage. Lamar led 68-66 with only seconds remaining, but a double foul was called and the resulting jump ball was controlled by the Eagles who tied the score 68-68 as the game ended. Sparked by Weldon Higginbotham m overtime, the Cards won the contest, 78-70. This scrornble for o rebound shows the closeness ofthe contest which vvos finolly won in overtime by the University of Houston, 72-70. Richard Smiths i221 shot misses the :nur during the University ol Houston grime.