Taking On An Opponent

TAKING ON AN OPPONENT with a string of seven straight national championships can cause any team to panic. But in the 1974 NCAA basketball tournament, North Carolina State refused to back away.

Playing in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Wolfpack faced longtime powerhouse UCLA in the semifinals. Almost 16,000 fans packed the Greensboro Coliseum hoping for an NC State upset.

The first half ended on a dramatic note as UCLA’s Dave Meyers hurled in a 40-foot desperation shot to tie the contest 35–35.

Early in the second half, the Bruins burst to an 11-point lead, but NC State used a 10–0 run to close the margin and tie the game 65–65 at the end of regulation.

The first overtime saw each team trade early baskets, and the five minutes ended with a score of 67–67. UCLA went up quickly by seven in the second OT, and the Wolfpack appeared finished with only 3:27 left to play.

But North Carolina State refused to panic and used an intercepted UCLA pass, missed Bruin shots, and excellent ballhanding by 5-foot-6-inch guard Monte Towe to close with a 13–3 spurt. In the Wolfpack’s final stretch, David Thompson poured in six points, Tommy Burleson added three, and Towe scored four in the 80–77 win. UCLA’s amazing winning streak had ended.

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POINT In NCAA history, most experts consider the UCLA teams of the 1960s and 1970s the greatest basketball dynasty of all time. Certainly their seven consecutive national championships have never been equaled.

The Bruins, like their mascot, brought fear to every opponent, but NC State controlled that fear. In the second overtime, in spite of falling behind, the Wolfpack came back to win.

Fear strikes the heart of every person at some time in life. God holds the secret to overcoming fear. King David knew the key: Trust in the Lord. Give him your fear. You may still feel afraid, but you won’t panic. You’ll control that fear and tap into God’s power to move forward.

GOAL! What do you fear? Name three things that make you uneasy.