The 1,000th Day

Along with other members of the U.C.L.A. basketball team, All-America Center Bill Walton (6 ft. 11 in.) had never lost a basketball game in college. With 88 consecutive victories behind them, stretching over more than 1,000 days, the Bruins could hardly be blamed for bringing a sense of foreboding to the toughest contest of their 13-0 season, the game against No. 2-rated Notre Dame. There were 11,343 exuberant Irish fans to be dealt with in South Bend, and a young, physically powerful Notre Dame team with nine victories and no defeats so far this winter. More important, there was a throat-constricting memory: U.C.L.A.'S last loss had been inflicted by Notre Dame in that same South Bend fieldhouse just three years earlier.

Though U.C.L.A. Coach John Wooden professed no special concern, he had more than enough to worry about. A two-week-old back injury had kept Walton out of three games, and he would almost surely be needed against Notre Dame. Led by high-scoring Center John Shumate (6 ft. 9 in.), the Irish, with their relentless full-court press and finely tuned fast break, had overrun their opponents by an average of 26 points a game.

In the first half, Irish rooters sat in uneasy quiet as Shumate was held to only eight points, while his teammates missed consistently from the outside and got tangled in the long, prohibitive arms of Walton under the basket. By comparison, the Bruins exhibited their legendary poise. Guard Dave Meyers hit five for five, and Forward Keith Wilkes four for seven. At the end of the first half, the Irish trailed 43-34.

With less than four minutes to play, Notre Dame began the assault. Shumate scored two quick baskets. Freshman Forward Adrian Dantley made an easy lay-up after stealing a pass, and Guard Gary Brokaw (Notre Dame's high scorer with 25 points), hit two jumpers to bring the Irish to within one point with 1 min. 10 sec. left on the clock. Notre Dame Guard Dwight Clay finally ended the suspense. From the right corner, with 28 sec. left, he hit for Notre Dame's twelfth straight--and winning--point. With six sec. left, and the score 71-70, U.C.L.A. had three more chances to save the game. But Walton was wide with a short jumper and neither Forward Pete Trgovich nor Meyers could bat the ball in. The Bruins will have a chance for revenge in Los Angeles this Saturday, but for the moment, Notre Dame is No. 1.

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