Evening star., 1949-01-20
.LeddingDefense
Testing Nation S
Top-Rated Quiint
Struggle Due Tonight
As Oklahoma Ags
Oppose St. Louis
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Jan. 20.-Oklahoma
A. and M. will throw up the best
defense in college basket ball to-
night against st. Louis University,
acclaimed the Nations No. l team.
Hank Iba S athletes have held their
opponents to an average of 35 points
a game so far this season.
If they can limit st. Louis Ed
Macauley and his mates to this
figure, the Aggies should be able to
crack the Billikens' winning string,
which now stretches to II.
St. Louis has averaged 58.7 points
a game, which makes them an often
sive leader in their own conference,
but fails to place them among the
top 10 in scoring nationally. The
Billikens this week were voted the
Nations top team in an Associated
Press poll.
The National Collegiate Athletic
Bureaus official figures show Gin
cinnati still the top offensive team
among the country's major quintets
with an average of 74.4 points a
game for nine outings.
Cincinnati is closely pressed, how
ever, by Rhode Island State, with
70, and Manhattan, with II.
The figures, covering all games
played through January IS, also
showed that the individual scoring
ranks we're led by Joe Noertker OF
Virginia, whose 264 points in IL
games give him an average of %
per contest.
But lisa close race. -Four players
are punched within a few percentage
points behind. They are Tony La
velli of Yale, 218; Dick Schnittker
of Ohio State, 215; Chester Giermak
of William and Mary, 21.3, and
Vince Boryla of Denver, 2l.3.
AS defensive leader, the Oklahoma
team has long lead over its closest
pursuer, Siena, which has held the
opposition to 40.2 points a game
Then follow Michigan with Al
and Kentucky with 42.4. Minnesota,
the Big Nine power. also is a de-
fensive power with 428.
Yale has the best average from
the free throw line with 220 hits
in BOT attempts for lit percentage.
Wyoming's 1881 tops field goal per-
centage leaders.
National Leaders.
Odense-Cincinnati. IA points average
Manhattan, II in IL. Illinois, 70.5 in 13;
Bowling Green, 69.5 in Is: Western Ken
tueky, 69.4 in II; Akron, 69;3 in 10; New
II Defenso@okiahoma ems oi1l la A. & NJ, IS points
average yielded in II games: Siena. 40:
42.4 in y; Minnesota; 81 in II; Ala;
in Is; Wayne. 43.4 in Il; Idaho, 43.6 in in
Sectional Offense Leaders.
East-Rhode Island State. 40 in 9
games; Manhattan, II in IL: New York
south1western Kentucky. ee.4 in IL;
Tulane, 81 in Is; Louisville 66.6 in 10.
Midwest-Cincinnati IA in o; Illinois,
M Missouri M ua' Va lley1sradiey. S7.a in IS;
Skyline and Southwest-Brigham Young,
5s5 in in i; Utah. 616 in II; Wyoming
Far west-stanford. $50 in IS; St.
Marys, 56.9. in "A: California: SIS in 10.
Sectional Defense Leaders.
/ East-Siena. 4O.2 points average yielded
in - sames; Columbia. 44.3 in Z; La
south-Kentucky. 4o.4 in IL: Alabama,
42.S in IL; William and Mary, 461 in II
Midwest-Michigan. 4l.5 in IL; Mime
sofa, Ar in l; Ayne: 43.4 in IA.
$50 IN II: Kansas. 43.s in 12; Wash
ington tMo); 463 in IL.
Skyline and southwest-,Wyoming. 49,
in !6; Baylor. 45.3 in 15; Texas. 46.3
| in IA.
Far West-Washington State, 43c in
49,. Idaho, 43.6 in 20; San Francisco,
| At in Is