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Kansas great B.H. Born passes away

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B.H. Born, the Most Outstanding Player of the 1953 Final Four, passed away Sunday. He was 80.

The university released a story on Born and his time with the Jayhawks.

Born played under legendary Phog Allen from 1951-1954, playing as a reserve on the team’s 1952 National Championship squad behind All-American Clyde Lovellette. He broke out the next year averaging 18.9 points per game as the starting center. That season, he was named an All-American and All-Big Seven Conference.

It was in the national title game that Born broke out. In a 69-68 loss to Indiana, the Medicine Lodge, Kansas native scored 26 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked 13 shots. While it’s unofficial, it was believed to be the first triple-double in program history.

As a result, Born was the first player to ever win the M.O.P. from a losing team.

As a senior, Born led the team again in scoring at 19 points per game, was named all-conference again and after his time in Lawrence, went on to play for the 1954 gold medal-winning United States team in the world championships.

Photo courtesy of the University of Kansas Athletics Department.

David Harten is the founder of The Backboard Chronicles. Follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.