LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Clyde Lovellette, the Hall of Fame forward who led Kansas to the 1952 national championship before helping the U.S. win gold at the Helsinki Olympics, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer. He was 86.
Lovellette's family said that he died at his home in North Manchester, Indiana.
A two-time All-American, Lovellette had 33 points and 17 rebounds in the Jayhawks' victory over St. John's in the NCAA title game. The performance helped him earn tournament MVP honors.
Lovellette went on to play 12 years in the NBA with stops in Minneapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Boston. He retired in 1964 as a four-time All-Star who helped his teams win three championships.
Jayhawks coach Bill Self called Lovellette ''a beloved teammate and great ambassador for his alma mater.''
