College career
Burlington Junior College
Harge initially enrolled at Bowling Green but was forced to cut short his freshman year and return home when his father became ill. [1] He then went to Burlington Junior College in Iowa, where he was named a Juco All-American as a freshman after averaging 31 points and 21 rebounds a game. He averaged 39 a game in the JC national championship tournament, including a high game of 47 points. [2] He averaged 26.4 a game as a sophomore, leading Burlington to a conference title. [3]
University of New Mexico
Harge transferred as a junior to New Mexico in 1962 to play for new Lobo coach Bob King, [2] and together they would transform the program over the next two years. The Lobos had been dismal during the previous eight seasons, going 42–149 (.220). During their two seasons with Harge, the Lobos went 39–15 (.722), becoming a nationally ranked NIT finalist and setting the table for the continued success of the UNM program. [4]
In 1962–63, the Lobos began the season 9–2, including wins over Texas Tech and at rival New Mexico State. [5] They were 14–4 before losing five straight WAC conference games, four of those on the road. They finished the season 16–9, the best Lobo record in seventeen years. Harge led the team, averaging 21.1 points and 13.2 rebounds a game, setting then-Lobo records for points and rebounds in a season. [6] Harge also spearheaded a defense that gave up fewer than 58 points a game on the season, [7] and the team's success led to the first sell out of a Lobo home game. [8]
College stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|
| 1962–63 | New Mexico | 25 | 25 | | .541 | | .631 | 13.2 | | | | 21.1 |
| 1963–64 | New Mexico | 29 | 29 | | .432 | | .649 | 10.5 | | | | 16.8 |
| Career | | 54 | 54 | | .484 | | .640 | 11.8 | | | | 18.8 |
- Bold indicates team leader
Professional career
Harge was selected with the 4th pick in the 2nd round (11th overall) in the 1964 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Previously, in 1963, he was also selected with the 4th pick, but in the 7th round (57th overall) by the Detroit Pistons. But Harge opted to play professionally in the American Basketball Association.
Harge played six seasons (1967–1973) in the ABA as a member of the Pittsburgh Pipers (1967–68), Oakland Oaks / Washington Caps (1968–1970), Carolina Cougars (1970–1971 and 1973), Floridians (1971–1972), and Utah Stars (1971–1973). He played on the Pittsburgh Pipers team that won the 1968 ABA Championship, and he won the 1969 ABA Championship with the Oakland Oaks. Harge maintained a double-double average (10.3 points, 11.6 rebounds) over the course of his ABA career and ranks tenth on the ABA's all-time list for total rebounds (4,955). [9]
Kenneth Cornelius Thomas is an American retired professional basketball player who played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represents the University of New Mexico, competing in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920.
Melvin Joe Daniels was an American professional basketball player. He played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, and Memphis Sounds, and in the National Basketball Association for the New York Nets. Daniels was a two-time ABA Most Valuable Player, three-time ABA Champion and a seven-time ABA All-Star. Daniels was the All-time ABA rebounding leader, and in 1997 was named a unanimous selection to the ABA All-Time Team. Daniels was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Donald Elliott Flanagan is an American retired basketball coach. From 1995 to 2011, Flanagan was head coach of the University of New Mexico women's basketball team.
The New Mexico Lobos are the athletic teams that represent the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. The university participates in the NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference (MW) since 1999, after leaving the Western Athletic Conference. The university's athletic program fields teams in 16 varsity sports.
Gary G. Suiter was an American professional basketball player.
Gary Lee "Tex" Bradds was an American basketball player. After a successful college career at Ohio State, where he was the 1964 College Player of the Year, he played an integral role with the 1968–69 Oakland Oaks, the American Basketball Association champions. He attended Greeneview High School, where he scored 61 points in a game. The school's gym is named in his honor.
Bob King was a college basketball coach and administrator. He was head coach at the University of New Mexico from 1962 to 1972 and at Indiana State University from 1975 to 1978. He also served as Assistant Athletics Director at New Mexico (1972–73) and Athletics Director at Indiana State (1974–80).
Johnny Brown is a retired American basketball player and long-time college basketball assistant coach. He played power forward at the University of New Mexico from 1984 to 1986 and played professionally for five seasons. He has been an assistant coach for over twenty years at several schools, currently at University of the Incarnate Word.
Tony Rena Snell Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos. He was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Greg Brown is an American former basketball player and current high school coach. He is known for his standout college career at the University of New Mexico, where he was Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year in 1994 and won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation's best player under six feet tall.
Clayton Shields is a retired American basketball player. He was named Western Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year at the University of New Mexico and played professionally in six countries.
Cameron David Bairstow is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of New Mexico before being drafted 49th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. He spent two seasons with the Bulls before playing five of next six years in the National Basketball League (NBL).
Ronald Sanford is an American former professional basketball player. The 6 ft 9 in (206 cm), 215 lb (98 kg) post player was described as not intimidating but a smooth and active player who could score. After playing collegiately for New Mexico, he played in the ABA for the Dallas Chaparrals in 1971, spending the near entirety of his career in Europe.
Hunter Greene played college basketball at the University of New Mexico from 1983 to 1988. At 6' 6" he played primarily guard and wing. He was a versatile all-around player, accomplished scorer, and strong defender for the Lobos and head coach Gary Colson.
Kelvin Scarborough was an American basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987. He was a 6' 1" point guard for the Lobos and head coach Gary Colson.
The Pit is an indoor arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving primarily as the home venue of the University of New Mexico Lobos basketball teams. The facility opened in 1966 as University Arena but gained the nickname "The Pit" due to its innovative subterranean design, with its playing floor 37 feet (11 m) below street level. The arena is located on the UNM South Campus and has a seating capacity of 15,411 for basketball and up to 13,480 for concerts, with 40 luxury suites and 365 club seats.
The 1964 New Mexico Lobos football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Bill Weeks, the Lobos compiled a 9–2 record, tied for the WAC championship, were ranked No. 16 in the final UPI Coaches poll, and outscored opponents, 185 to 190.
Stanley A. Quintana was an American football quarterback and defensive back. He played for the New Mexico Lobos from 1963 to 1965 and the Quantico Marines in 1969 and 1970. He was a member of the Minnesota Vikings taxi squad in 1966 and the traveling squad in 1967. He was selected as the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1964.
The 2022–23 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team represented New Mexico State University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Aggies were led by first-year head coach Greg Heiar and played their home games at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico as members of the Western Athletic Conference.
