Kansas University basketball players contend with a Missouri player for a rebound in this 1939 file photo. The Jayhawks defeated the Tigers in January 1939 to snare the program's 500th victory. The game, which KU won, 37-32, was played at Hoch Auditorium in Lawrence.
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Box score: Kansas 37, Missouri 32
The Kansas Jayhawk, believed to be an ailing bird, came back to fighting form and surprised and delighted its followers here last night by flapping all over the Missouri Tiger to win a 37 to 32 basketball game.
The victory over the Tigers, undefeated in conference play until last night, scrambled the Big Six cage race into a free-for-all, with Missouri now dropped to a tie for first place with Iowa State, and Kansas moving up to a tie for third with Nebraska.
A crowd of 3,025 fans, the biggest of the season, had as hectic an evening as did the Jayhawkers and Tigers, when the Kansas team took an early lead, lost it to finish behind, 16 to 19 at the half, regained the lead at 30 to 29 when only six minutes of the game remained, and then poured it on the Tigers to stay out in front the rest of the way.
No Rest for Kansas
The Jayhawkers will resume the Big Six title hunt tomorrow night at Manhattan against the Kansas Aggies, a team K.U. beat here 33 to 29 last week. An odd Big Six record was preserved by the K.U. victory. So far no Big Six team has lost a conference game on its home court this season. Some say that makes things look bad for the Jayhawkers who must travel to Manhattan for the next game.
Dr. Allen used 10 players last night, suffling (sic) them in and out at frequent intervals, and each man played so important a part at one time or another that mentioning one as a star is unfair. Howard Engleman, sophomore, was high point man for Kansas with nine points, but Haskell Tison, 6 foot 7 inch center for Missouri, took individual scoring honors with five field goals and three free throws for 13 ponts (sic).
Kline a Comer
The most improved player for Kansas was John Kline, 6 foot 3 inch sophomore guard, who started in place of Harp. Kline's ruggedness was a big asset and he scored five points. He went out on four personal fouls just after Kansas took the lead with six minutes left of the last half, but Dick Harp who replaced him played a whirlwind windup and scored five points.
Kansas started with a rush and soon had a 14 to 9 lead. But at that point the game was 12 minutes old and Coach Edwards sent in Tison for Currence at center. The tall Tiger changed the game and before the half ended he had tipped in two field goals and made three free throws to give Missouri the lead.
Howard Engleman's turn shot from near the free throw line gave Kansas life in the opening period, when he hit three times. He got only one goal in the last half.
A Hot Second Half
The second period found Golay, Miller, Kline, Allen and Corlis starting for Kansas. Golay scored from the toss up, Lobsiger hit for the Tigers and then Kline came thru for Kansas to cut Missouri's lead to 21 to 20. Tison stemmed the Jayhawk rally and hit two quick goals from followins. Harp replaced Kline for Kansas, and Reid came in for Miller and Voran for Allen. Golay got two free throws, Halsted hit and then Corlis. Tison scored, and Harp got a free toss.
It was nip and tuck, with Kansas trying hard to catch the Tigers and Missouri tiring. Kline came back in for Harp. Reid got a free throw, then made a sensational backward toss for a field goal. Voran took a long shot and it scored, putting Kansas ahead at 30 to 29 and six minutes to go.
Kline Goes Out
Then Kline fouled out. Engleman, who had replaced Golay, hit his only goal of the last half and Harp hit a free toss and a field goal to give Knsas (sic) a 35 to 29 lead and only three minutes left.
Missouri made a gesture to come back when Losinger hit a goal and Currence made one of two free throws on Harp's foul, to bring the count, 35 to 32.
The final minute was furious, but Harp broke away for another field goal and the crowd breathed at ease with the final gun soon sounding.