That time Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan tied in a controversial finish

Before Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan College tip off in a preseason exhibition game in Rupp Arena, a look back at the most bizarre finish in the thirteen times the two schools have met on the hardwood. We’re going way back in time with this one.

The year was 1918. Neither you nor I were born yet. World War I was still going on, and Stanley A. Boles, nicknamed “Daddy,” was coaching Kentucky in his first and only year on the job. The head coach of Kentucky changed often back then, but Boles was unique in that he was the school’s athletic director from 1917 to 1933. His best work? He hired Adolph Rupp to coach the team in 1930.

In 1918, Kentucky Wesleyan was in an entirely different city, located in Winchester, Kentucky, before its move to Owensboro in 1950. On February 9, Kentucky, also known as State University, made the short drive to Winchester to play Wesleyan on the Panthers’ home floor.

The game was low-scoring because, you know, it was 1918. George Zerfoss, a Lexington native and the son of YMCA of Kentucky co-founder Frank Zerfoss, scored eight points to lead Kentucky. Three of his teammates chipped in, adding five, four, and four to their team’s final score: 21.

Kentucky Wesleyan scored 22. However, controversy ensued when, after the game, a point was taken away from Wesleyan. This occurred after both teams agreed on a 22-21 finish and the gymnasium had cleared. Still, a single point was removed when the one referee, simply known as Referee Burr in the archives, disallowed a second-half free throw after the fact. Coach Boles took a signed statement from Burr back with him to Lexington to prove that his team did not lose to Wesleyan.

What a move by Boles, losing a game and then getting a statement from the referee, who Kentucky Wesleyan hired, to change the outcome before he returned to Lexington with the loss. Kentucky lost only two other games in the 1917-18 season.

Read the game write-up from the Lexington Leader via Big Blue History, and let’s hope Kentucky does not need any more postgame shenanigans to extend its lead in the series to 11-2-1.

WILDCATS TIE WITH WESLEYAN

Score is 21 to 21 in good game at Winchester – Referee made an error

lThe Wildcats of the University of Kentucky journeyed to Winchester last night to meet the representatives of Kentucky Wesleyan College in a basketball contest which resulted in a tie, each team scoring 21 points. The fact that the game had resulted in a tie was not discovered until the teams had left the building and were in the gymnasium dressing.

At first it was thought that Wesleyan had defeated the Wildcats 22 to 21, but the scorers had made a mistake by counting a foul which had been disallowed. Referee Burr, of Wesleyan, signed a statement to this effect which “Daddy” Boles brought home to prove the statement that Wesleyan had not beat the Kentucky basketeers.

The Wildcats were in bad condition for the contest because of the two hard games which were played Thursday and Friday nights with the Tennessee quintet and were tired in the second half.

The first period ended with the Kentucky men in the lead by a score of 14 to 4. Wesleyan returned in the second half and began an advance which the blue and white basketeers could not stop.
Reese and Nunnelly starred for the Wesleyan five and Zerfoss led the scoring for the Wildcats with three field goals and two out of five fouls.

The game was hotly contested in the last half and both teams fought valiantly for a victory.

Lexington Leader via Big Blue History

Over at the Winchester Daily Democrat, the hometown writeup in Monday’s paper told a different story, saying, “Wesleyan can and will claim this game. All reports coming out in the Lexington papers have been badly colored.” The Democrat added an interesting note about the pregame festivities, too.

WESLEYAN WINS OVER STATE

Score Stands at 22 to 21, in Favor of Local Aggregation – Lexington Reports Colored

In one of the fastest games ever staged in Winchester, the Wesleyan boys Saturday night defeated the State University team by a score of 22 to 21. The score was actually a tie, 21-21, as Referee Burr disallowed one of the free throws thrown by Wesleyan. The scores checked up after the game and both agreed that Winchester had won by the score of 22-21. About half an hour after the game, the State scores remembered that there had been some doubt whether Referee Burr had allowed one of Wesleyan’s free throws. Boles, the State Coach, then hunted Referee Burr, who admitted that he had disallowed one of Wesleyan’s throws in the second half. This can have no bearing on the official score of the game. Spalding’s Official Basket Ball Guide for 1918, Rule 6, section 10 covers this point. Wesleyan can and will claim this game. All reports coming out in the Lexington papers have been badly colored.

Before the State game, Wesleyan Midgets romped on Winchester High School by a score of 24 to 9. The High School boys put up a good fight, but the well oiled team work of the little Midgets was too much for them. These teams play again March 1 before the Wesleyan-Transylvania game.

Winchester Daily Democrat (February 11, 1918)

Thanks to Big Blue History for taking us on a ride in the time machine.