oly Cross vs. CCNY at the Garden, and this was where Julian and the Kaftan-led New York brigade -- six of the Crusaders' top seven scorers were from the big city and its environs -- figured to have special impact. Natives or not, though, the boys in purple were a distant second in the popular vote on the following night.The vast majority of the 18,000-plus fans roared approval as the Beavers opened fast, rushing to a 10-3 lead. It was nearly eight minutes before the Crusaders made their first field goal but, instead of panicking, they steadily worked their way back into the game and managed to edge in front by halftime. The second half belonged to Holy Cross in general and to Kaftan in particular. The sophomore finished with 11 field goals and 30 points and dominated the backboards as the Crusaders scored a 60-45 triumph, their 22nd victory in succession. The Crusaders were one step from the top, and New York was prepared to take out adoption papers. Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Oklahoma had survived the Western playoffs in perhaps the most thrilling actionin tournament history. First, the Sooners subdued favored Oregon State, 56-54. They followed that with a melodramatic 55-54 victory over a Texas team that had lost only once previously. A last-second basket by Ken Pryor -- his lone field goal of the game -- enabled Oklahoma to prevail overthe Longhorns, who had defeated Wyoming in the first round. The outstanding player in the West had been Gerry Tucker, the Sooners' center. He had returned from theservice to lead Oklahoma to the Big Six Conference title and a record of 24-6 entering the NCAA championship game. Basketball fans eagerly awaited his confrontation with Kaftan, the Holy Cross star. Julian, an excitable type, didn't make much sense as he announced the starting lineup in the dressing roombefore the final. "George is going to start," he said. "And Dermie (O'Connell) is going to start. And the Creek (anotherreference to Kaftan)....
