1.30.2009

Remembering the Day House Dropped 61

Part II
House v. Alcindor

January 2000

House's 61 differs from Alcindor's

The crowd gathered in Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 25, 1967 kept chanting, "Give the ball to Lew," so what else were the UCLA Bruins supposed to do? Sophomore center Lew Alcindor responded with one of the greatest performances of his legendary career, scoring a conference-record 61 points in UCLA's 100-78 victory over Washington State.

To do it, Alcindor hit 26 of 35 shots and made three baskets in the final minute, including a dunk at the buzzer. If the big fella had made more than 9 of 18 free throws, he'd have approached 70. "They played him straight (man-to-man defense)," UCLA coach John Wooden said at the time. "I don't believe you can handle him this way." For 33 years, Alcindor's performance stood as the greatest in league history.

Now it has company.

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