John Savage tries a jump shot against Bradley. His performances won him a berth on the MVC first team.

Cagers Finish Last In Conference

Despite the aggressive play of highly-praised sophomore John Savage, the Eagles closed their 61-62 season with a gloom-provoking 3-23 record.

Tied down by lack of depth and height and hampered by only fair team speed, NTSU's basketball team bogged down early in the season and never got to really moving again. For the second straight year, NT ended up low man in the Missouri Valley Conference contest, losing all 12 conference battles.

The only redeeming success of the dismal season came when MVC coaches selected Savage to occupy a guard spot on the all-conference five, and ge became the first North Texan ever so chosen. In contrast to team totals, the 6-5 sophomore was third from the conference top in individual scoring, hitting 43.9 of his field goal attempts and 53.5 per cent of his free throw tries, for an average of 19.5 points a game in conference play.

At post position for the varsity team, Savage proved the ability foreshadowed by a sizzling freshman year when he broke all but a few frosh records.

In March, the UP I-All-American list boosted his prestige with an honorable mention.

Fourth down on the list of top conference scorers was Ardie Dixon, the spare, 6-4 senior whose early-season action challenged Savage's scoring performances.

Flashy little (5-11) Oscar Miller stuck to his guns all season and was a consistent force behind the rare rallies and spurts of encouraging NT action.

The Yucca, 1962
Page 178-179