Two watershed games on this date in Shocker basketball history

Two watershed games in Wichita men's basketball history took place on this date.

*70 years ago on this day (1954), Wichita University played in its first big-time postseason game in school history, at Madison Square Garden in the first round of the NIT. At that time, the NIT was one of two major postseason tournaments in men's college basketball.

The Shockers were a four-point favorite heading into the matchup with Bowling Green. However, Wichita fell behind by as many as 18 points, and the Shockers had to play 'catch-up' from then on.

But it wasn't for a lack of shooting -- the Shockers put up 101 shots in the game, making 33 of them. Wichita was outscored 30-18 at the free-throw line by Bowling Green. Jim McNerney scored 20 points for the Shockers, and Cleo Littleton added 18.

The loss stopped Wichita's eight-game winning streak, as the Shockers finished the season with a final record of 27-4.

*60 years ago on this day (1964), 5th-ranked Wichita University defeated #11 Drake 58-50 in a Missouri Valley Conference one-game tie-breaking playoff to determine the conference champion and the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The game was played on a neutral court at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.

This would be the first time the Shockers got a bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Wichita and Drake had tied for first place atop the conference standings during the regular season, but only one team, the conference champion, would advance to the NCAA Tournament; the loser had to settle for a bid to the NIT.

Ernie Moore led the Shockers with 19 points in his final game; the NCAA would not declare him eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament.