How about this historical BB nugget

[DeepGreen]

• First time since 1969 that two North Texas players have scored 30 points or more in a game - when Crest Whitaker had 36 and Joe Hamilton had 31 vs. Drake on 1/30/1969.

How many of you oldtimers were at that Drake game in the Snake Pit?  Proud to admit I was.

[drex]

I was there.  Drake was nationally ranked and the Men's Gym was packed.  I got there early for warmups...when Drake came out for shoot around the crowd stood and booed.  I believe we beat them that night.  It was not uncommon for North Texas to host at least two nationally ranked teams each year, as the Missouri Valley Conference was very strong back then.

[UNTLifer]

2 hours ago, DeepGreen said:

• First time since 1969 that two North Texas players have scored 30 points or more in a game - when Crest Whitaker had 36 and Joe Hamilton had 31 vs. Drake on 1/30/1969.

How many of you oldtimers were at that Drake game in the Snake Pit?  Proud to admit I was.

I am sure I was there.  I would have been 4 years old, but my folks took us to every game.

[FirefightnRick]

That's awesome Deep.

 

Rick

[Harry]

Great memories courtesy  The Portal to Texas History

Whitaker

Hamilton

[Cerebus]

10 minutes ago, Harry said:

Great memories courtesy  The Portal to Texas History

Whitaker

 

Story the Morning News did on Whitaker in 2010.

DaMN: Dallas firefighter proud his son, police officer daughter followed him into service

Quote

For the family of Dallas-Fire Rescue Lt. Crest Whitaker Sr., the relationship is far more personal. His son, Crest Whitaker II, has been with Dallas Fire-Rescue for four years, while his daughter, Chelsea Whitaker, has been a Dallas police officer for three years.

---

 Crest Sr. played both football and basketball at the University of North Texas and was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.

 

[UNTLifer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hamilton_(basketball)

I remember Joe Hamilton coming back to North Texas and playing exhibitions as a member of the Dallas Chaparrals (ABA), now the NBA's SA Spurs.

[DeepGreen]

Thanks for the link 'Lifer.  This stood out to me-

"Hamilton played high school basketball at Dunbar (Lexington, Kentucky) where he was an All-American.

He played collegiately at Christian College of the Southwest (Garland, Texas), where he was a two-time Junior College All American. He was also an alternate on the United States team for the 1968 Olympics. He transferred to North Texas State in 1968 and was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference Player."

That last tidbit says something about how good Hamilton was.  The MVC was a premier basketball conference back then.

[rws69]

I was there. Did not miss many BB games as a student.

[Greenrex]

I was there. Joe was friendly and would always say "Hi" when we crossed paths on campus. I don't remember missing a home game.

 

[RBP79]

Worked with Crest many times..was a super Fire Lt.. He never brought up his BB career at NT with me. Very humble individual.

[KRAM1]

On 3/20/2018 at 9:43 AM, DeepGreen said:

• First time since 1969 that two North Texas players have scored 30 points or more in a game - when Crest Whitaker had 36 and Joe Hamilton had 31 vs. Drake on 1/30/1969.

How many of you oldtimers were at that Drake game in the Snake Pit?  Proud to admit I was.

Me! Snake Pit was dope! What a place and what memories of that place...and, we can relive some of those memories as the 8th annual Mean Green Spirit Scholarship basketball game will be played there on April 14th with an 11am tip-off! Come support these great student athletes who just win 2nd Place in the National Spirit Team competitions in Daytona!

Edited April 8, 2018 by KRAM1