Today in Central PA Sports History - 1954
Welcome to a new feature here at DSB...we can't promise we'll have one of these every day, but we hope when we do post them that you'll find them informative and fun.
March 13, 1954
On this date 56 years ago, the Penn State men's basketball team beat Notre Dame, 71-63, to advance to their first and only Final Four in school history. The Nittany Lions would lose to the eventual champions, the LaSalle Explorers, in the national semifinal less than one week later.
In his last season as coach, Elmer Gross guided All-American Jesse Arnelle (pictured) and the rest of the Nittany Lions to an opening game victory over Toledo, an upset of eighth-ranked LSU, and ended Notre Dame's 18-game winning streak to advance to basketball's final weekend in Kansas City.
For his efforts in the tournament, Arnelle was named the East Regional MVP and was also named to the 1954 NCAA All-Tournament team. The 6'5" center finished his career at Penn State as the Lions' all-time leading scorer and rebounder and is the school's only basketball All-American.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
March 13, 1954
On this date 56 years ago, the Penn State men's basketball team beat Notre Dame, 71-63, to advance to their first and only Final Four in school history. The Nittany Lions would lose to the eventual champions, the LaSalle Explorers, in the national semifinal less than one week later.In his last season as coach, Elmer Gross guided All-American Jesse Arnelle (pictured) and the rest of the Nittany Lions to an opening game victory over Toledo, an upset of eighth-ranked LSU, and ended Notre Dame's 18-game winning streak to advance to basketball's final weekend in Kansas City.
For his efforts in the tournament, Arnelle was named the East Regional MVP and was also named to the 1954 NCAA All-Tournament team. The 6'5" center finished his career at Penn State as the Lions' all-time leading scorer and rebounder and is the school's only basketball All-American.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Posted by Max Power at 3/13/2010 12:00 PM 
Categories: Central PA Sports History
Tags: Jesse Arnelle Elmer Gross Penn State basketball 1954 Final Four
Categories: Central PA Sports History
Tags: Jesse Arnelle Elmer Gross Penn State basketball 1954 Final Four
Comments