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Ken Charlton had 19 points and five rebounds to lead CU over UCLA in 1962.

Story by Frank Haraway
Denver Post
(December 8, 1962)

BOULDER -- Colorado Coach Sox Walseth went into Friday night’s 82-60 conquest of UCLA worried about his team’s defense.

Saturday night he’ll send his Buffaloes against Northwestern at 8:05 in the CU Fieldhouse with all kinds of sweet words ringing in his ears.

“They beat us coming and going and all the way around” said UCLA Coach Johnny Wooden, whose 1962 Bruins came within a whisker of dethroning national champion Cincinnati in the NCAA playoffs.

“I heard Sox was worried about his guards, but I think he can stop now,” Wooden continued. “They looked good to me. Charlton (Ken) looks as though his knee will let him cut loose and he's a fine ballplayer.

“But that Davis (Jim) is a great one. We’re inexperienced after losing three starters from last year’s team and we missed a lot of shots but their defense made us miss many of them. Sox runs a good offense.”

The game officials, who can’t be quoted by name for obvious reasons, also praised the Buffs.

“I’ve worked games for four Big Eight teams now and I’d have to say Colorado will make a strong defense of its title,” one of them remarked. “I think Walseth runs the best offense in the conference and he really coaches defense too. You very seldom see one of his team’s losing a game at the free throw line.”

Mueller Praised
The other official had a word of praise for forward Milt Mueller. “That guy has come up with some new moves this season and he’s a lot tougher,” he remarked.

In contrast to the erratic play in CU’s opening 79-69 double-overtime victory over Wichita last Monday, Friday’s game was skillfully and cleanly played.

Only seven fouls, four by UCLA and three by CU, were committed in the first half as the Buffs moved steadily to a 39-28 midpoint lead. The Herd never trailed after taking a 10-8 edge.

Charlton with 11 points, and little Eric Lee with nine, were the first-half spearheads but Mueller and Davis joined in the scoring and George Persons fitted perfectly into the pattern-type play the Buffs employed most of the time.

The Buffs took advantage of opportunities in the fast break in the second half and handled the ball astutely on several bursts down the floor that wound up with baskets.

“It’s hard to beat the one foot when you get enough of them,” one of the game officials commented.

With Colorado leading 49-39 and the partisan crowd of 5,800 begging for more, the Buffs upped their margin the easy way as UCLA fouled in a futile effort to slow down the Herd.

CU wrapped 10 straight free throws around a fast break basket by Charlton to run its lead to 58-41. When Walseth pulled his regulars with the Buffs ahead 72-45 and 5:54 to go, UCLA had not been able to put together two consecutive baskets in the second half. The Bruins did it only twice in the first half, so tough was CU’s defense.

Colorado hit 51.8 percent of its 56 shots. The UCLAns fired 79 times for a chilly 30.4 pct. Only a 21-point effort by veteran center Fred Slaughter kept the Bruins respectable. CU showed a 52-44 rebound edge.

UCLA 60

COLORADO 82

UCLA.........28 32-60
Colorado.....39 43-82
Officials - Ben Bidewell, Tom Glennon
Attendance - 5,800.