Here - Creighton University Bluejays

NIT Teams
1943 National Invitation Tournament
Back Row (l-r): William Lindquist, Ralph Langer, No. 39, Edward Beisser, Elmer
Munden, Richard de la Vega, Joseph Loisel, Frank Hebenstreit.
Front Row (l-r): Coach Eddie Hickey, James Pattee, Don Knowles, Robert Salen, Don
Shearn, unknown.
Missouri Valley Conference Champions
16-1 Overall, 10-0 MVC (1st)
The top-ranked team in the nation for several weeks, Creighton was the No. 1 seed
for the 1943 National Invitation Tournament, but was upset in the first round by
Washington and Jefferson College in what remains the only NIT appearance by the
Presidents … Washington and Jefferson outscored Creighton, 17-10, at the free throw
line as four Creighton players -- Ed Beisser, Ralph Langer, Ward Gibson and Richard de
la Vega -- fouled out of the game early in the second half … with a final record of 16-1
against collegiate competition, Creighton received a final No. 5 national ranking by
Dick Dunkel.
Washington & Jefferson 43
1943
Creighton (16-1) 42
National Invitation Tournament
March 18, 1943 Madison Square Garden New York, NY
Defining Moment: The Jays held a 38-26 advantage at the 10-minute mark, but
the Presidents used a late17-4 run to take the lead with one minute remaining.
Bob Salen and Joe Loisel both had chances to tie the game from the free throw line
in the final 51 seconds for the Jays, but were unable to connect.
Key Stat: The Presidents hit 17-26 free throws while Creighton made just 10-21.
WASHINGTON & JEFF. fg ft-a pf pts
Zellers ................. 0 4-6 2 4
R. Forq’r................ 0 0-1 1 0
Mears.................. 4 4-5 3 12
Ted Misstal ............. 2 5-8 2 9
Stewart ................ 1 0-0 0 2
Hank Hartman .......... 1 1-1 4 3
Ray F’q’r ............... 0 1-1 2 1
Paul Konyha ............ 5 2-3 3 12
Kowell ................. 0 0-1 1 0
Totals. ..............13 17-26 18 43
.654
CREIGHTON fg ft-a pf pts
Ralph Langer ........... 3 1-4 3 7
Joe Loisel............... 5 2-4 3 12
Bob Salen .............. 0 0-1 2 0
Dick Nolan.............. 0 0-1 2 0
Ed Beisser .............. 4 0-1 4 8
Ward Gibson ............ 1 2-3 4 4
Gene Lalley ............. 3 2-3 1 8
Don Knowles............ 0 1-2 3 1
Dick de la Vega.......... 0 1-1 4 1
Barney Burdick .......... 0 1-1 1 1
Totals. ..............16 10-21 28 42
.476
Officials: John Nucatola and Matty Begovich
Technical Fouls: None. Attendance: 16,000.
Team 1st 2nd Total
Creighton 28 14 42
Wash. & Jeff. 19 24 43
1977 National Invitation Tournament
Standing (l-r): Athletic Trainer Clair Fennell, Manager Camilo Alba, Head Coach
Tom Apke, Cornell Smith, Tim McConnell, Rick Apke, Bill Butrym, Bruce Kucera,
David Wesely, Assistant Tom Brosnihan, Assistant Mike Caruso. Sitting (l-r): Brian
Mulvaney, Kevin Kuehl, John C. Johnson, Paul Dinkins, Robert Scrutchens, Jerry
Newell, Randy Eccker.
21-7 Overall, Independent
Junior forward Rick Apke, brother of head coach Tom Apke, led the Bluejays in scoring
at 19.8 points per game, while recording a team-best 57.8 field goal percentage … in
a preview of future Missouri Valley Conference matchups, fellow independent Illinois
State dropped Creighton, 65-58, in the first round of the NIT at the Civic Auditorium
… other than the defeat to the Redbirds, the Bluejays were 3-0 against future Missouri
Valley Conference foes Bradley, Drake and Tulsa.
Illinois State (22-6) 65
1977
Creighton (21-7) 58
National Invitation Tournament
March 8, 1977 Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha, Neb.
Defining Moment: John C. Johnson scored 10 straight points for the Jays during
a stretch in the second half to pull CU from a 44-51 deficit to 54-55. However, Rick
Apke was whistled for his fifth personal foul with 5:57 remaining, and the Redbirds
sunk both ensuing free throws to put ISU on top to stay.
Key Stat: Jeff Wilkins, Illinois State’s 7-foot center, recorded a double-double
with 21 points and 12 rebounds. For the Jays, John C. Johnson scored 22 points
and added 10 rebounds.
ILLINOIS STATE fg-a ft-a reb pf pts to
Billy Glenn Lewis ..... 6-18 0-0 8 3 12
Del Yarbrough ........ 1-5 2-2 5 4 4
Jeff Wilkins . . . . . . . . . . 8-16 5-8 12 1 21
Ronald Jones.......... 2-9 4-4 6 3 8
Derrick Mayes ......... 5-9 3-4 2 2 13
Rick Ferina............ 0-3 2-2 0 1 2
Joseph Galvin ......... 0-0 1-3 0 0 1
Jeff Widdel ........... 1-1 2-2 4 3 4
Totals. ...........23-61 14-25 37 17 65 22
.377 .560
CREIGHTON fg-a ft-a reb pf pts to
Cornell Smith ......... 0-4 0-2 3 2 0
Robert Scrutchens .... 4-14 2-2 1 4 10
Rick Apke............. 3-9 1-1 7 5 7
John C. Johnson ...... 9-18 4-4 10 3 22
Randy Eccker.......... 2-6 0-0 3 3 4
Tim McConnell ........ 3-6 1-2 4 1 7
David Wesely ......... 3-7 2-2 5 3 8
Totals ...........24-64 10-13 33 21 58 14
.375 .769
Attendance: 6,336.
Team 1st 2nd Total Total%
Illinois State 28 37 65 .377
Creighton 32 26 58 .375
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