Evening star., 1940-12-31
Defeat Of Minnesota
Is Needed Impetus,
Reinharf Ayers
CoIonioIs Stage Greet
Rally in Late Seconds
For 46-to-43 Victory
By BURTON HAWKINS.

1--WE needed a game like that to
make collegiate basket ball a big
drawing card here" enthusiastic
cally reported Coach Bill Reinhart
of George Washington University,
thinking in commercial terms
shortly after his polished team had
staged a stirring rally in the waning
seconds to whip Minnesota, 46-43,
last night at Riverside Stadium
Reinhart has more than passing
interest in the development OF COL
legiate court spectacles here, for it
was the stout Colonial coach who
persuaded Owner S. G. Leoft1er OF
Riverside Stadium to part with
$4,000 to install floor there. Now
Reinhart is vindicated, as some
1000 customers last night will tes-
tify.
Were over the hump" says Rein
hart. Certainly nobody could ask
for more excitement or faster
game. The big problem was to get
fans to turn out and now that they
have I think they'll be coming back
for more"
Fans Are Well Rewarded.
Within a span Of two weeks G.. w.
has enticed the largest crowds ever
to witness collegiate basket ball as a
lone attraction here. Fortunately,
both occasions provided thrilling en-
gagements, the Colonials dropping
their only decision of the season to
the Oklahoma Aggies in an overtime
tussle in the first game.
Minnesota, in Remnants DOCK, IS
a better outfit than the Aggies, so
it's likely he derives a measure of
satisfaction from the improvement
of his team. G.. w. according to
Minnesota's coach, Dave Macmillan,
is one of the Nations better teams
and is rated by him on par with
undefeated N. Y u. which dealt the
GopherS a 54-51 trimming on Satur-
day night
II is tribute to the Colonials
that they whipped Kansas State
easily and carried on to nip Mime
sofa while one of their most con-
sistent performers has been shackled
by a slump. Little Bobby Gillian
has been woefully off form in his
last two appearances. but G. w.
nevertheless has clicked.
Speed Seen Main Asset.
"These kids will get out and 60"
explains Reinhart. They keep on
the move and that's why profess
sional basket ball won't give us much
competition Pro players try TO do
with their hands what they should
be doing with their feet. They
don't move And keep moving because
they're not in shape and aren't will
ing to work hard enough to get in
condition
"Shucks, could play pro ball the
way its being played now. Take
Otis Zahn and Ben Goldfadden.
for instance. They were a couple of
swell college players, but right now
they couldn't make my club because
they won't run"
c. w, with six victories in seven
games. will rest until January 8,
when it tackles Georgetown at Riv-
erSide. On the same evening other
local college clubs will swing back
into action, with Maryland meet
ing PENNSYLVANIA at Philadelphia,
Catholic University facing Navy at
Annapolis and American U. journey
ing to collide with Dickinson.
Conner Leads G. w. Attack.
1t was lean, towering Joe Conner,
former Roosevelt High player. who
spanked the Colonials against Min
nesota, unraveling the finest game
of his career. Conner located the
cords with lengthy set shot which
sent G.. w. ahead at 44-43 with less
than minute to go, and Guard Lou
Veltri increased the gap a few Sec
onds later with a neat flip from un-
der the basket.
Pulling away slightly just before
half-time G. w owned a 24-19 ad-
vantage at intermission and in
creased its lead to 1926 as the game
licked into its final moments. At
that juncturee Minnesota's Don
Smith and Don Carlson collaborated
in sending the GopherS ahead by
point.
It was then that Conner smeared
Minnesota's attempt to freeze the
ball. dribblirg frantically within
shooting range of the G. W. basket
and let fly the most satisfactory shot
of his court career. Conner con-
tributed 16 points to the G. w. at
tack, while his running mate. rangy
Matt zunic, accumulated 13 points.
Bill Lind, Carlson and Smith
paced the swift Minnesota attack
with u, II and 10 points, respec-
lively.