The winning point in the skin-tight, tense struggle came with 28 seconds left when Bob Leonard, the Hoosiers' great guard, hit one of two free throws.

Kansas took the ball and held on to it until the final two seconds, when Jerry Alberts, a sophomore substitute, pumjped up a one-hander from the corner. It was just a little short, and the game ended just as the ball bounced off the rim.

That was it. Indiana and veteran coach Branch McCracken had their second national championship and -- just as as they did the first time they won in 1940 -- they gained it by whipping Kansas here in Municipal Auditorium beofre a packed house of 10,500. But there was no reason for a single Kansas head to be bowed. the Jayhawks gave the favored Hoosiers just about all they could handle and actually led a larger portion of the game.

And once more they had to go down the stretch without B.H. Born, their only tall man and leading scorer, who fouled out with 5:36 left.

It was the first time this blue ribbon classic has been decided by one point and without doubt was the most thrilling title struggle in the NCAA annals. Up until the time Alberts' shot bounced off the rim, it was strictly anybody's ball game.

The score was tied 11 times, the last one coming with 58 seconds left when Dean Kelley hit a short one-hander to draw the Jayhawks even for the last time.

Indiana came down court from that one, and took its time looking for a good shot. Finally, Leonard drove down the middle, and a foul was called on Dean Kelley, the KU captain who had done a brilliant job in checking the Indiana great.

Leonard was wide on the first one, but the second hit nothing but the cords, and Indiana was on the throne.

Don Schlundt, Indiana's 6-9 sophomore pivot, carried the Hoosiers thru the fourth period by hitting nine of their 10 points in the stanza and topped the game's scorers with 30 points. Charlie Kraak had 17, and Leonard finished with 12.

Born led Kansas with 26, Al Kelley had 20, and Dean Kelley and Harold Patterson eight. In the Hoosiers, the Jayhawks finally found a club which didn't wind up talking to itself when it was introduced to the famed Kansas pressing defense. Indiana never blew up and never let the Jayhawks get more than six points ahead, and that happened just once.

Indiana never led by more than three points, the last time by 68-65 with 2:20 remaining. Kansas wiped this out, but perhaps blew a big chance in the process. With 1:21 to go, a personal-technical foul was called on Kraak, but Al Kelley missed the technical shot, and Patterson hit only one of the two personal shots.

Dean Kelley then tied it, setting the stage for Leonard's winning point.

The first period saw the score tied twice, and each team in the lead twice. It ended with Indiana in front, 21-19, after Burke Scott combined a driving layup and free toss with 15 seconds left.

Kansas broke back in front two minutes deep in the second period with seven straight points after leonard took -- and hit -- his first shot of the game. After Charley Kraak hit a free toss, the margin mounted to five points at 29-24 when Reich hit a fielder and Born added a free toss.

Born, playing perhaps his best game of the season on offense, hit 19 points in the first half, and also did a creditable job of hawking Schlundt.

The pressing kansas defense didn't bother Indiana as much as it has the rest of the KU foes. Kansas stole the ball jsut four times in the first half, and forced the Hoosiers into four mistakes that cost them possession. And Indiana worked five steals on the Jayhawkers before intermission.

Schlundt had 15 points in the half, but sat out about four minutes of the second period after drawing his third foul.

Kansas hit 13 of 37 shots in the first half for 35 per cent, while Indiana was hitting 14 of 42 for 33 per cent.

Born had 12 of KU's 19 rebounds, and Indana had a total of 18.

The third period was another hectic, tension-filled stanza. The score was tied four more times before Leonard gave the Hoosiers a 59-58 lead at the end of the round with a 40-foot fielder five seconds before the end.

Kansas jumped back to take a 60-59 lead on Al Kelley's two free tosses as the fourth quarter opened, but Schlundt then started his one-man spree.

His fielder put Indana back in front at 61-60, and after Born tied it, his free toss again regained the lead. It stood at 62-61 with 5:36 to play when Born was whistled out, drawing his fifth foul for shoving Schlundt.

The big Hoosier center hit the toss to boost the lead to two points, but Al Kelley tied it again with a one-hander with 5:25 left.

Then Schlundt again, hitting his sixth straight point of the period, shoved Indiana back in front at 65-63 with 5:10 to go.

And again it was Al Kelley who tied it, this time with two free throws with just 2:41 remaining.

Schlundt retaliated, and it was a blow that looked like it might seal the game. He hit a basket and was fouled by Jerry Alberts, and added the free toss for a 68-65 lead with 2:30 left.

Then came the break that could have won it for Kansas. Kraak was called for charging, and a technical foul was added when he tossed up the ball in disgust. But APatterson and Al Kelley hit only one of the three tosses and Indiana still led by two with 1:21 to go. Dean Kelley's fielder tied it with 58 seconds left, but then came the fatal foul that put Leonard in the hero's role.