January 9

From Hoopedia

• 1947 - Dino Martin, of the Providence Steamrollers, becomes the first BAA player to score 40 points in a game, in a 91-68 win over the Cleveland Rebels.

• 1953 - Bevo Francis of Rio Grande College scores 116 points in a 150-85 victory over Ashland (KY) Junior College.

• 1954 - At Madison Square Garden Oscar Robertson outscores Seton Hall, 56-54; the Big O's teammates chip in another 62, to make the final score 118-54. Robertson's 56 points remains the record for a single game -- college or pro -- in the Garden.

• 1956 - (Right): Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics becomes the first pro basketball player to be featured on a Sports Illustrated cover.

• 1965 - Pint-sized (5'3") powerhouse Muggsy Bogues is born in Baltimore, Maryland.

• 1968 - The East beats the West, 126-120, in the first ABA All-Star game. Larry Brown of the Denver Rockets is named game MVP.

• 1972 - The record-setting 33-game winning streak of the Los Angeles Lakers is finally snapped by the Milwaukee Bucks, 120-114.

• 1996 - The Toronto Raptors set an NBA record that will never be broken. They fail to make a single free throw (0 for 3) in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, setting a new league record for fewest free throws made in a game.

• 1999 - Natalie Williams, of the Portland Power, grabs an American Basketball League record 22 rebounds.