Location -- Kansas City, Mo.

Leading scorer -- B.H. Born, 6-foot-9 junior center, 18.9 ppg.

Final record -- 19-6.

Born and Kansas came within a point of winning back-to-back NCAA championships, but a snake-bitten trip to the free-throw line with 1:21 remaining proved to have dire consequences.

KU was down three points when Indiana's Charley Kraak, upset about a charging foul, slammed the ball to the court and drew a technical.

Under the rules at the time, the Hawks received three free throws and possession. But KU hit only 1 of 3, and although Dean Kelley connected on a layup during the ensuing possession, the Hoosiers had the ball with 1:05 left and the game tied at 68.

After Indiana went ahead on a free throw with 27 seconds left, Allen told his team to hold the ball for 22 seconds, then get it to Al Kelley for the potential game-winner. KU did as told, but Kelley couldn't get an open look. He passed to seldom-used substitute Jerry Alberts, whose last-ditch shot from deep in the corner drew iron.

Indiana fans swept up the Hoosiers and carried them a few blocks back to the team hotel. Kansas rode home to Lawrence, where it was greeted by about 2,500 fans.

"I have received more cheer from this team than any other in my 43 years of coaching," Allen told them.

Born was named tourney MVP despite the loss.

The '53 team also featured a Topeka guard named Dean Smith, who went on to become college basketball's all-time winningest coach during a 36-year career at North Carolina. Smith, a 5-10 reserve, saw action in 25 games that season and finished with 1.9-point scoring average.