Hall of Athletes
An unseeded La Salle basketball team was selected to the 1951-52 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), which at the time was considered more prestigious than the NCAA Tournament. The Explorers defeated Seton Hall 80-76 in its opener, playing one of the best games in the first 16 years of the NIT.
After defeating the Pirates, La Salle beat St. John's and Duquesne before downing Dayton 75-64 in the championship game, finishing the season with a 25-7 record.
Hall of Athletes alumni Tom Gola, '55; the late Norm Grekin, '53; (both voted co-MVPs); and captain/guard Buddy Donnelly, '52, were key players on the winning team. Other players in the victory over Dayton included Newt Jones, '52; Joe Gilson, '55; Jack French, '53; Eddie Altieri, '55; Billy Katheder, '58; Jim Warrington, '55; Dick Breen, '53; Tom McCormick, '58; Frank O'Hara, '54; and starters Jackie Moore, '53; and the late Fred Iehle, '53.
