Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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Xuiiui: PLiui Cinirl Sir.ilegy The first tough opponent nearly proved to be a stumbling block, as the Kelly Green had to come from behind to eke ou t a 52-48 win over Villanova in a game played at the Phil- adelphia suburb. They were trailing, 32-22, at the end of the first half, when the buses carrying several hundred rooters arrived. Sparked by Hank Poppe, with fifteen, and Bob Kelly, with ten, the Jaspers overcame what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. Returning to Riverdale, the Manhattan five topped the U. S. Merchant Marine Acad- emy, 75-47, before heading for Hanover, New Hampshire, where they gained a hard- fought 57-53 verdict over Dartmouth. Poppe played brilliantly in notching twenty-three points. After six successful starts, the high-flying five ventured into that burial ground of all Manhattan teams, Madison Square Garden, and tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of a tall Washington State team, 58- 54. The jitters were in evidence as the Jaspers wasted many scoring opportunities. Poppe 231

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tournament sponsored by the National Inter- collegiate Basketball Association because of a clause in the contract barring Negro play- ers. When the Olympic committee followed our action by threatening to retract recogni- tion, the rule was rescinded, and the way was opened for the Jaspers to engage in their second post-season ad enture in the last four basketball years. Coach Ken Norton unveiled his second Kelly Green team late in November at the annual outing against the Alumni. Kelly with nineteen led the way to the easy 76-42 triumph, as the old grads had their fling. They included in their ranks such former greats as Dick Murphy, John Kravetz, Tom Courtney, Bill Schwitter and Dan Christie. The first two games of the regular season took the Jaspers into the New England area. American International was met and con- Wooiis clings to he ball quered, 62-56, at Northampton, Mass., in a sluggish game. Bob Kelly, with thirteen, and John Burke, with eleven, were high scorers. The following night the wanderers traveled south to Waterbury, Conn., where they beat Springfield, 59-50. Hank Poppe carried the scoring burden , hitting for se enteen, and Jack Byrnes netted eleven. The home opening was an auspicious one. X o ' 5P£ 5-58 WVaj S NOW j ' V V N - ' lat- C TV ' High Jinks Jt home as the Rnerdalers trounced the New York State Maritime Academy, 91-52, achieving the highest single game point total m Man- hattan annals. With Byrnes on the bench because of an injured wrist, Kelly put on a masterful exhibition. He scored eighteen in the first half, and only Norton ' s act of char- ity in allowing the substitutes to ha e their exercise prevented Kelly from beating the Mariners singlehanded. 230

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and Byrnes w ere higli for the night N ith thir- teen apiece. The Paterson State Teachers team was the unfortunate victim of the vengeance-seeking Kelly Green in their next outing, and were beaten, 80-47. Returning to the Garden after the Christmas vacation, the quintet dupli- cated their earlier win over Dartmouth, this time by a 53-50 score. Turning what was supposed to be a dis- astrous ictory into a sweet victory, the Nor- tonmen gained an unexpected win over a highly touted West Virginia team, 58-53. The Mountaineers had ranked among the top teams in the country the year before, and w ere returning with almost the same person- nel. However, sparked by Bob Kelly with Jack Byrnes sex ' enteen points, and John Veryzer, with six all-important successive set-shots, the Jaspers won going away. Two defeats followed in the wake of this victory, and both of them were hard to swal- low. City College emerged on the long end of a 46-43 count, in a hard-fought contest that could have gone either way. In the following game, in an unexpected let-down after the extreme tension of the three preceding battles, the hoopsters lost to an inferior Boston College five, 66-57, at the ]ohii Burke Boston Garden. It was easily the worst game of the season. The next four games were recorded in the win column. Scranton fell, 74-50, at the Riv- erdale gym; Rensselaer Poly was an easy 63- 47 victim at Troy; Siena threw us a scare be- fore succumbing, 53-50, at Albany; and Hof- 232