Mar. 8, 1965 - Princeton, held at bay by Penn State’s fine zone defense during much of the second half, came charging back to score an exciting 60-58 victory at the Palestra in Philadelphia tonight in the first round of the NCAA championship.
Bill Bradley, Princeton’s all-America and Olympic star, was contained by the Nittany Lions for much of the game. But he broke around Penn State’s zone late in the game to score 8 points in a row and 10 of the Tigers’ last 14 points to lead Princeton from a 45-42 deficit with 8 minutes remaining.
Don Rodenbach scored Princeton’s last two points when he stole a pass thrown into play from out of bounds by the Lions.
Bradley made 22 points in the game, but he was held to 9 in the first half and 12 for the first 32 minutes. Jim Reed led the Nittany Lions with 16 points.
“I wanted very much to get past this one,” Bradley said afterward. “Yes, I was conscious that this might be my last game — of course I was. We were going to have to do something if we were going to win, but I can’t say all of a sudden I made up my mind that it would have to be me. I was trying my best all game.”
“He was too psyched, too nervous,” said Princeton coach Burch van Breda Kolff, who was puffing a cigar and dreaming of Portland, Ore., where he and his team will go for the NCAA finals if Bradley has two more great games in that 6-5 body.
“I’m happy this wasn’t the end,” Bradley said. “Oh yes, I know the end has to come soon, but I didn’t want it to come tonight.” He clearly showed that in the last seven minutes.
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