March 18, 1948
Saint Louis University wins the national basketball championship. In the years before the NCAA Tournament and March Madness, college basketball’s champion was crowned at the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The upstart Billikens, led by coach Ed Hickey and star Ed Macauley, defeated New York University 65-62 at Madison Square Garden to win the title and finish the season 24-3.
Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.
Photo by Kylie Osullivan on Unsplash
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