by billyjack » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:05 am
Sorry to hear of the passing of Friar legend Ernie "Pop" Lewis. Very young, in his early 50's.
On the basketball court, he is most known for putting Friartown officially back on the map, in late January 1987, by hitting a last second game-winner from the corner vs #11 Georgetown at the Dunk (Providence Civic Center at the time of course). PC was down 1 as the clock ticked down... Billy Donovan drove the lane and dished to the right corner, and Pop nailed a 3 to beat "Reggie and the Miracles".
This game is listed by most of us, depending on age, as one of the greatest games in Friar history. This game was also notable as the game where Rick Pitino and Friar-alum John Thompson Jr almost got into a fistfight midgame in front of the scorer's table.
That was on a Wednesday night. Three days later on the Saturday, the Friars beat St John's (Mark Jackson was a senior i think), and we found ourselves ranked for the first time since 1978. We clocked in at #17. Back then it was still just the "Top 20", not 25.
Pop was a fan favorite and always a good guy, and he was way too young to pass on.
Providence