Basketball's Week

A team that grabs more rebounds than its opponent often grabs victory as well. Thus last week, when Clyde Lee of Vanderbilt tied a school record with 26 rebounds, the Commodores came from 11 points behind to defeat Miami of Ohio 74-68. San Francisco's unbeaten Dons dominated the boards 58 rebounds to 38 and beat Utah State 86-71. Those teams that did not rebound so well suffered the consequences, and no one suffered more—for a while—than Oregon Coach Steve Belko. After two humiliating home-court losses to Kansas (92-58) and Stanford (74-56), Belko lamented, "We'd have some pretty good rebounders—if they had flypaper on top of their heads." Then, for the first time this year, the Ducks did control the boards, 53-39, and they defeated Purdue 92-76 in the first round of the Far West Classic in Portland.

THE WEST

THE TOP THREE:

1. SAN FRANCISCO (6-0)
2. UCLA (6-1)
3. BRIGHAM YOUNG (5-2)

Tennessee, which has lost just three home games in two years, showed that it could be tough on the road, too. The Volunteers capitalized on 58 rebounds and a multitude of Portland mistakes for a 70-59 win in the Far West Classic.

The HAWAII Marines beat Utah State 94-91 in overtime on the first day of Honolulu's Rainbow Classic. Wayne Estes supplied most of the Aggie scoring punch with 42 points, but the most effective punch came from Gene Aiona, head of the Hawaiian basketball officials. Following the game, Ladell Anderson of Utah State had a few words to say to Aiona, who promptly floored the coach with one blow. Earlier in the week Estes sank 13 of 14 foul shots in an 86-73 win against San Jose State. Estes is not the country's best foul shooter by accident. He practiced all summer, once sinking 165 in a row.

Pacific surprised Arizona State 92-87 and then, in the WCAC tournament, stopped Loyola of L.A. 67-61. In a meeting of Santas during Christmas week, SANTA CLARA defeated Santa Barbara in the WCAC tournament 91-69.

Both WYOMING and UCLA got fine performances from their stars and unexpected help from a pair of new starters. Dynamic Flynn Robinson of the Cowboys scored 26 points against Idaho State and then took a rest, which he could afford because reserve Dick Wilkinson scored 27 points in his first start. It all added up to a 104-64 Wyoming victory. California was more trouble-some, and Robinson had to be at his best to salvage a 75-74 win. UCLA's Gail Goodrich had 28 points in an 84-75 victory over USC, but it was the play of 6-foot-6 sophomore Edgar Lacey that was most exciting. Lacey sank seven of 12 field goal tries and six of seven foul shots, grabbed 10 rebounds and did a dazzling all-round job.

Utah's Redskins, the most prolific scorers in the land, needed 20 points from substitute Granny Lash to overcome Santa Clara 87-83. Army, too, gave the Redskins some nervous moments before succumbing 87-65.

Playing what Coach Stan Watts termed its greatest game, BRIGHAM YOUNG (page 26) smothered Ohio State 112-71. BOSTON COLLEGE converted 32 of 40 free throws for a 78-62 win over St. Mary's.