600: K.U. downs Aggies in a Thriller

By J-W Staff Reports     Jan 31, 1945

Big Six Standings

The 1945 Kansas University basketball team poses in this file photo. The 1945 squad defeated Kansas State in a 39-36 decision to notch the program's 600th victory.

KANSAS 4-1

OKLAHOMA 4-1

IOWA STATE 2-2

KANSAS STATE 2-2

MISSOURI 1-2

Box score — Kansas 39, Kansas State 36

NEBRASKA 0-5

By defeating the Kansas Aggies in a thrilling basketball game here last night by a score of 39 to 36 the University of Kansas Jayhawkers moved into a first place tie with the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big Six conference race with four wins and one loss.

With the exception of the opening seconds of the contest the Jayhawkers held the upper hand in the first half and left the court at halftime leading by a score of 21 to 16.

Weatherbie Scores First

Dave Weatherbie, hot shot Aggie forward, opened the scoring with a beautiful shot and Gordon Reynolds knotted the count at 2 all with a setup. Moffett, who scored seven free throws in the first half, came thru with a charity toss and K.U. was ahead. They held the lead until about the middle of the second half.

It was the free throwing of Moffett that kept Kansas in the game during the initial half. Both clubs scored six field goals in the first period. The Aggies out scored the Jayhawkers 15 to 13 from the field but the Crimson and Blue quintet held the advantage at the free throw line 13 to 6.

Peck Starts Second Half

Owen Peck scored first for the Jayhawkers in the second half on a free throw. Weatherbie hit a field goal. Heim scored for the Jayhawkers and Moffett flipped in a one hand shot to make the score 26 to 18 for Kansas.

Joe Ridgeway, Dick Spencer and Weatherbie scored for the visitors while Moffett was making a field goal and the Aggies were only 3 points behind, 26 to 23.

K. State Takes Lead

Weatherbie slipped away from his guard and sank a field goal and Ridgeway put the Aggies ahead 27 to 26 on a field bucket. Moffett tied the score on a free throw. Weatherbie fired a coupleof goals thru the nettings and the Wildcats had a four point lead.

Two quick field goals by Reynolds tied the score at 31 all with ten minutes left to play. Jay Payton took aim and sank a long one and Ralph Steusser hit a free throw and the Purple and White five was leading 34 to 31.

Moffett Ties the Score

Reynolds tossed in a free throw and Moffett flipped in a one handed two pointer to tie the count at 34 all. Herbert Heim hit a free throw and Kansas was ahead 35 to 34 with four minutes left to play.

Dick Spencer gave the Aggies the lead 36 to 35 on a field goal. Kirk Schott, who had missed several shots during the game, took the ball from a teammate and dribbled to the free throw to sink a left handed push shot.

Take Ball Out of Bounds

With about a minute left to play Reynolds drove in under the basket and sank a field goal for Kansas to make the final score 39 to 36. Jack Kincheloe fouled Reynolds while he was shooting but the K.U. team refused the free throw to take the ball out of bounds.

Moffett, K.U. forward, was high point man of the game with 14 points made on six field goals and eight free throws. Weatherbie of the Aggies was next with 13 points.

K.U. Plays Clippers Next

The Kansas team will meet the Clippers in Hoch Auditorium, Tuesday, February 6. The Jayhawkers will return to conference play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Lincoln, Frebruary 10.

The Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated Kansas by one point at Norman, will be in Lawrence for a return engagement, Tuesday, February 13. The Jayhawkers will go to Manhattan for the second game with the Aggies, Friday, February 16.

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