This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Saturday, March 20, 1965

St. John's wins NIT in Lapchick's last game

The Redmen withstood a late rally to hold off top-ranked Villanova and win an unprecedented fourth NIT championship, 55-51, at Madison Square Garden in coach Joe Lapchick's final game. Kenny McIntyre led with 18 points. The Redmen (21-8) were up 30-14 at one point in the first half, but Villanova pulled to within 50-49 late in the second half. Bob McIntyre's three-point play with 6:03 left put St. John's ahead by four. Villanova cut the lead to two on Eric Erickson's steal and layup two minutes later, but those were the Wildcats' last points. They turned it over with 21 seconds left when Bernie Schaffer was called for traveling. Jerry Houston's free throws with three seconds left sealed the win for St. John's, which avenged its regular-season loss to Villanova. Lapchick, 65, compiled a 335-129 record in 20 seasons with the Redmen.