On This Date in Sports January 19, 1974: Irish Stop Bruins Streak at 88
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
UCLA’s 88-game winning streak comes to an end as they are stunned by Notre Dame 71-70 in South Bend. Notre Dame won the game with a stunning 12-0 run in the last three and a half minutes. It is the first loss for the Bruins in nearly three full years, including three tournament runs. Notre Dame also had been the last team to beat UCLA on January 23, 1971.
UCLA Basketball under Coach John Wooden was the greatest dynasty in the history of collegiate sports. Beginning the 1964 team, the Bruins won the NCAA Tournament nine times in ten years, including seven in a row heading into the 1974 season. Even more impressive than their excellence in March, was the fact that Bruins rarely loss. The dynasty started with a 30-0 record in 1964. With the exception of a one-year absence from the tournament in 1966, UCLA never lost more than two games in any one season. This included unbeaten seasons in 1964, 1967, 1972 and 1973.
On January 23, 1971, the Bruins suffered one of their rare defeats, losing to #9 Notre Dame who was ranked 89-82, led by Austin Carr’ 46-point performance. The Bruins would win their final 15 games in 1971, including the NCAA Tournament. The following season, saw UCLA put together a perfect 30-0 record, which included a pair of blowout wins over the Irish 114-56 in Westwood and 57-32 in South Bend. In the 1973 season, the Bruins again beat Notre Dame twice, winning 82-56 in Pauley Pavillon on December 23rd and 82-63 in South Bend. That win on January 27, 1973, was historic as it set a new record for longest winning in Division 1 Basketball at 61 games. The previous mark had been set by the University of San Francisco in 1955 and 1956 with Bill Russell leading the way. The Bruins would finish 1973 led by Bill Walton at 30-0 again, winning the NCAA Tournament.
In the 1973/74 season, UCLA continued their dominance winning their first 13 games, to stretch their historic winning streak to 88 games. The streak itself was beyond impresses as the Bruins dominated, winning 72 of 88 by double digits. They also did it against the best of the best, with 18 wins coming against ranked teams and 12 wins coming in the NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame meanwhile was a team on the rise, led by their 32-year old coach Digger Phelps. The Irish entered the first of two meeting with the Bruins unbeaten at 8-0 and holding the #2 ranking. A full house was on hand for a Nationally Televised game at the Joyce Center. The Bruins entered the game a bit hobbled as Bill Walton needed an elastic brace to aid his sore back that was injured a week earlier against Washington.
Notre Dame looked to get physical early in the game, as Adrian Dantley elbowed Walton to the nose, drawing blood on the first play of the game. That did not help the Irish as Walton and the Bruins took control of the game early, making six of his first seven shots as UCLA held a 33-16 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half. Notre Dame would, however, end the half strong, cutting the deficit nine points as they trailed at the half 43-34. Notre Dame continued the momentum into the second half, with a 9-2 run led by Gary Brokaw. The Bruins would eventually settle things down and got back control with nine straight points. The Irish would put up a good fight, but UCLA appeared to have every time the game got close.
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With 3:32 left it appeared they had the game all but won, leading 70-59 following a jumped by Tommy Curtis. Looking for one last run, Digger Phelps called timeout and began to have the Irish run an aggressive full-court press. The move worked as the Irish quickly scored six points to bring the crowd back into the game. UCLA now just trying to run out the clock began to run to dribble around looking to stem the tide, but momentum had lifted the Irish like a tidal wave, as they continued to chip away, with a shot from the corner by Brokaw. UCLA now was suddenly discombobulated and rushing shots, as Notre Dame cut the deficit to 70-69 with one minute to go.
Looking for answers, and not used to the press, Bill Walton who had not lost since High School, looked toward coach John Wooden asking for a timeout, but the Bruins coach thought timeouts showed your opponent weakness and he shook his star player off. The Bruins would once again turn the ball over as Notre Dame had a chance to take the lead. Much of the Irish comeback was due to the shooting of Gary Brokaw, so when the Bruins went to double the Notre Dame star the ball ended up the hands of Dwight Clay who gave the Irish a 71-70 lead with 29 seconds on the clock. Stunned and bewildered Bill Walton did not bother to ask his coach this time and singled for the timeout. Notre Dame kept up the defensive pressure but blew a chance at a steal, as Tommy Curtis got off a long distance shot that hit the rim. After, the Irish fumbled the rebound; UCLA had another chance to extend their streak with six seconds left. UCLA managed to get the inbound to Walton who had made 12 of 13 shots up that point. However, he was not able to get off a clean shot hitting the rim. The Bruins had two more chance for a tap in but missed as John Shumate got the last rebound as the buzzer sound and the crowd rushed the floor to celebrate a stunning 71-70 win by Notre Dame.
UCLA would avenge the loss a week later by beating Norte Dame 94-75 at the Pauley Pavilion. However, the bloom was off the rose for the UCLA, as they suffered two more losses in February and were knocked off by NC State 80-77 in the NCAA Semifinals, ending their seven-year reign. UCLA would bounce back to win another NCAA Tournament in 1975, in what would be John Wooden’s swan song, as he retired after ten championships in 12 years.