1964–65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 1964–65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1964-65 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by first year coach John Oldham and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Clem Haskins.[1] After two losing seasons, WKSC finished second in the OVC and were invited to the 1965 National Invitation Tournament.[2]

1964–65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
NIT Tournament, Quarterfinal
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
1964–65 record18–9 (10–4 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coachGene Rhodes
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena

Haskins scored a school record 55 points against Middle Tennessee on January 30. He was joined on the all-conference team by fellow sophomore Dwight Smith; Haskins and Steve Cunningham were selected to the OVC Tournament team.[3]

Cultural Relevance

Haskins and Smith broke the color barrier this season at Western Kentucky, becoming the first African Americans to play Hilltopper basketball.[4] They were recruited two years earlier by the previous, longtime coach Edgar Diddle; NCAA rules at the time prohibited freshman from playing varsity sports, so this was their first year of eligibility.[5]

Schedule

[6]

Date
time, TV
Opponent Result Record Site
city, state
Regular Season
12/1/1964*
Belmont L 50–52  0–1
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/5/1964*
at Bowling Green W 90–77  1–1
Anderson Arena 
Bowling Green, OH
12/8/1964*
at Vanderbilt L 79–94  1–2
Memorial Gymnasium 
Nashville, TN
12/12/1964*
Chattanooga W 94–78  2–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/15/1964*
Carson–Newman W 73–54  3–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/17/1964*
Texas Wesleyan W 118–87  4–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/21/1964
vs. Middle Tennessee
OVC Tournament
W 100–65  5–2
Convention Center 
Louisville, KY
12/22/1964
vs. Eastern Kentucky
OVC Tournament Semifinal
W 82–73  6–2
Convention Center 
Louisville, KY
12/23/1964
vs. Murray State
OVC Tournament Final
L 68–77  6–3
Convention Center 
Louisville, KY
1/5/1965
Murray State W 71–70 OT 7–3 (1-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/9/1965
at Tennessee Tech W 87–78  8–3 (2-0)
Memorial Gymnasium 
Cookeville, TN
1/11/1965
at East Tennessee W 70–69  9–3 (3-0)
Brooks Gymnasium 
Johnson City, TN
1/16/1965
Eastern Kentucky L 70–95  9–4 (3-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/18/1965
Morehead State W 93–65  10–4 (4-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/23/1965*
Union (TN) W 94–69  11–4
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/30/1965
Middle Tennessee
Haskins scores 55 points
W 134–84  12–4 (5-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/1/1965
at Austin Peay W 78–74  13–4 (6-1)
Memorial Health Gymnasium 
Clarksville, TN
2/6/1965
East Tennessee W 96–79  14–4 (7-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/8/1965
Tennessee Tech W 92–83  15–4 (8-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/13/1965
at Morehead State L 55–66  15–5 (8-2)
Wetherby Gymnasium 
Morehead, KY
2/18/1965
at Eastern Kentucky L 69–80  15–6 (8-3)
Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
2/18/1965
at Middle Tennessee W 94–83  16–6 (9-3)
Alumni Memorial Gym 
Murfreesboro, TN
2/20/1965*
at La Salle L 77–91  16–7
Palestra 
Philadelphia, PA
2/22/1965
Austin Peay W 116–77  17–7 (10-3)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/27/1965
at Murray State L 91–103  17–8 (10-4)
Racer Arena 
Murray, KY
1965 National Invitation Tournament
3/13/1965*
vs. Fordham
NIT First Round
W 57–53  18–8
Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
3/16/1965*
vs. Army
NIT Quarterfinal
L 54–58  18–9
Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

References

  1. Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  2. 2019-2020 OVC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 4 May 2020
  3. 2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020
  4. Harrison, Lowell (1987). Western Kentucky University. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813116204.
  5. Pete Thamel (March 27, 2008) Recalling Forward Thinking at Western Kentucky. New York Times
  6. 1964-65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule and Results, Sports Reference, retrieved 11 May 2020


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