Reprieve For The Redskins

Oddsmakers' underdog

As the NCAA champion, Utah qualified to play St. John's, the NIT champion, for the unofficial college title in a Red Cross benefit game two nights later in the Garden. Once again Utah was the oddsmakers' underdog (by four points) but the Cinderella team, as the New York newspapers called it, was the sentimental favorite of many fans who ordinarily rooted for the Brooklyn university.

When Utah took the court against St. John's on March 30, the Garden was jammed with 18,125 customers. By now, however, the Utah players were used to playing before New York crowds. St. John's early 13-8 lead didn't bother the Redskins at all, and by half time they had tied the score 19-19. Utah moved ahead 35-26 in the second half before St. John's rallied to come within two points (36-34) with four minutes to play. Then Ferrin stole the ball and passed it to Wilkinson for a fast-break layup. When St. John's missed its next shot, Ferrin grabbed the rebound, dribbled the length of the floor and scored on a one-hander. Fouled on the shot, he tossed in the free throw for a 41-34 lead. That ended St. John's chances. When the buzzer sounded, the final score was 43-36, and Ferrin, dribbling near mid-court, threw the ball high into the air. In the dressing room a few minutes later Coach Peterson looked around at his grinning players. "No curfew tonight," he said with a smile. "The season's really over this time."