Andrew Pace
UCLA's basketball team, the Bruins, had an impressive 88-game winning streak that lasted three years. On January 19, 1974, the streak was broken by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who won 71-70. The game-winning shot was made by Pittsburgh native Dwight Clay. This victory by Notre Dame is considered a landmark event in the history of basketball, and it ended what was, at the time, the longest NCAA Division I men's basketball streak.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team that broke UCLA's winning streak | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| Date | 19 January 1974 |
| Final score | 71-70 to Notre Dame |
| Player who hit the game-winning shot | Pittsburgh native Dwight Clay |
| UCLA's coach | John Wooden |
| UCLA's star player | Bill Walton |
| Number of consecutive wins in the streak | 88 |
| UCLA's record before the streak | 4 wins in the 1970-1971 season, 13 wins in the 1973-1974 season |
| Previous team to beat UCLA | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
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What You'll Learn
UCLA's 88-game winning streak
The winning streak began on January 23, 1971, after UCLA suffered a loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Over the next three years, UCLA went on a remarkable journey, beating teams with an average margin of victory of close to 23.5 points per game. They had more wins by 30 or more points (29) than single-digit wins (17) during the streak.
However, on January 19, 1974, the Fighting Irish of the 1973-74 college basketball season, led by coach Digger Phelps, sought to rewrite history. The game was a close contest, with UCLA holding a 70-59 lead with under four minutes remaining. But the Irish mounted a furious comeback, outscoring UCLA 12-0 in the final minutes to win by a single point, 71-70.
The victory was sealed by a game-winning shot from Pittsburgh native Dwight Clay, a star basketball player who chose to play for Notre Dame at his mother's urging. Clay's corner jump shot, later known as "The Shot," ended UCLA's historic winning streak and remains a landmark event in basketball history.
The impact of UCLA's winning streak extended beyond the court. Coach John Wooden became a legendary figure, winning ten national titles, including seven consecutively. However, after his retirement in 1975, UCLA struggled to replicate their previous successes. It wasn't until 1995, under Coach Jim Harrick, that the Bruins returned to the top, winning their 11th National Championship.
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The Fighting Irish
The victory was sealed by a game-winning shot from Pittsburgh native Dwight Clay, a corner jump shot that has gone down in college basketball lore as "The Shot." Clay's clutch moment was later described by college basketball guru Sonny Vaccaro as "one of the greatest and most important shots ever made in college basketball." The win was all the more significant as it came against the legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who had won an incredible 10 college basketball titles, including 7 in a row.
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Austin Carr's 46 points
On January 23, 1971, Austin Carr scored 46 points to lead the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish to an 89-82 victory over the UCLA Bruins. This was the last loss for UCLA for over three years, until their 88-game winning streak was broken by the same team on January 19, 1974.
Carr's 46 points were the most scored by any opposing team player against a John Wooden-coached team. He scored 17 field goals and made 12 of his 16 free-throw attempts. Carr's performance was instrumental in securing the win, as he scored 15 of Notre Dame's final 17 points in the game.
The game was a historic moment for the Fighting Irish, as they handed the Bruins their first defeat of the season after 14 consecutive wins. The victory also ended the two-year victory streak of the National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, who had won four straight national championships.
Austin Carr, a 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard, first came to prominence as a highly recruited player for the University of Notre Dame. He ended his three-year career at Notre Dame with 2,560 points, ranking him fifth all-time in college basketball history at the time. During his final two seasons, he became only the second college player to tally more than 1,000 points in a season. Carr is known for his exceptional scoring abilities, with a record-scoring average of 50 points per game in seven NCAA playoff games. He has been recognised in various "all-time best" lists, with ESPN naming him the 22nd greatest college basketball player of all time in 2008.
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John Wooden
John Robert Wooden, born on October 14, 1910, in Hall, Indiana, was one of the most revered coaches in the history of sports, specifically basketball. He was a player and coach for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team. Wooden was renowned for his short, simple, and inspirational messages to his players, including his "Pyramid of Success," which provided a framework for successful behaviours and a path to becoming a better person.
Wooden's coaching career spanned 29 years, during which he led the UCLA Bruins to unprecedented success. He won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period, including a record seven in a row. Within this period, his teams won an NCAA men's basketball record of 88 consecutive games. This winning streak was only broken on January 19, 1974, when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the UCLA Bruins 71-70.
Prior to his coaching career, Wooden was a successful basketball player himself. He played for Purdue University, where he was the first college basketball player to be named an All-American three times. After graduating, he began his coaching career, which took him to various universities, including the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
At UCLA, Wooden transformed the basketball program, implementing a unique offensive system that contributed to the team's success. His impact extended beyond the basketball court, as he was beloved by his players and left a lasting legacy in the worlds of business, personal success, and organisational leadership. Wooden passed away on June 4, 2010, but his impact on the sport and his players continues to be celebrated.
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Clay's game-winning shot
On January 19, 1974, Pittsburgh native Dwight Clay hit a game-winning shot, ending the UCLA Bruins' 88-game winning streak. Clay, a junior guard, was a star basketball player at Fifth Avenue High School and went on to play college basketball at Notre Dame.
Clay's corner jump shot gave the Fighting Irish a 71-70 victory over the Bruins, marking a historic moment in college basketball. The game was a thrilling encounter, with UCLA holding a 70-59 lead with 3:32 remaining. However, the Irish mounted a remarkable comeback, outplaying UCLA and capitalizing on a series of turnovers.
Clay's shot, known as "The Shot," is considered one of the greatest and most important in college basketball history. It altered the perception of the Bruins' "unbeatability" and remains a landmark event in the sport, even 50 years later. Clay, nicknamed the "Iceman," is renowned for his clutch performances and has left an indelible mark on the sport with his game-winning shot.
The victory not only ended UCLA's impressive winning streak but also showcased the talent and determination of the Fighting Irish. It was a testament to their resilience and skill, as they overcame a formidable opponent and created a moment that would forever be etched in the annals of basketball history. Clay's shot continues to resonate and inspire, reminding us that anything is possible when talent, hard work, and determination converge.
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Frequently asked questions
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish broke UCLA's 88-game winning streak on January 19, 1974, with a score of 71-70.
The Fighting Irish's win has been attributed to the efforts of Dwight Clay, who hit the game-winning shot, and Austin Carr, who scored 46 points. UCLA's star player, Bill Walton, scored 24 points in the game.
UCLA's 88-game winning streak is one of the most impressive in the history of American team sports. The loss to Notre Dame was their first in three years, and it ended a period in which they had dominated the NCAA tournament, winning seven consecutive championships.
Yes, Notre Dame was the team that beat UCLA on January 23, 1971, before the start of their 88-game winning streak.
