North Carolina is one of the blue bloods of college basketball with a list of all-time greats that reads like a who’s who of the sport. Many Tar Heels went on to success in the NBA or earlier American Basketball Association.
Here is an interesting trivia question. Which of these UNC basketball legends holds the school record for most points scored in a game? Lennie Rosenbluth, Larry Miller, Charlie Scott, Michael Jordan, Antawn Jamison or Tyler Hansbrough?
The answer: None of the above.
One of North Carolina’s most prolific scorers has lived quietly in Anne Arundel County for the past 52 years. This man rates as one of the program’s all-time greats, but his name and accomplishments have largely been forgotten by college basketball historians.
Only the most diehard UNC basketball fans would know that Bob Lewis holds the school’s single-game scoring record. Incredibly, this year commemorates the 60th anniversary of when the Washington, D.C. native established that mark.
On Dec. 16, 1965, Lewis erupted for 49 points against Florida State in a home game held at newly-opened Carmichael Arena. The 6-foot-3 forward made 18 of 25 field goal attempts and was 13-for-16 from the free throw line, while also totaling seven rebounds and five assists.
Six decades later, the record still stands as Lewis has watched player after player come up short. Most recently it was guard RJ Davis, who scored 42 points against Miami last season. The aforementioned Scott, who is in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, came closest by scoring 43 points versus Wake Forest on Jan. 17, 1970.
“It is hard to believe I still have that record after all these years,” the 79-year-old Lewis told The Capital. “I’m amazed because it could have been broken many, many times. It’s a crazy thing that [49 or more] has never happened since.”
Bob Bennett was the starting center in the game when Lewis set the scoring record and said he will never forget the impressive performance.
“I remember that Bobby Lewis could not miss that day. He was absolutely on fire and made shot after shot after shot,” Bennett said. “To tell the truth, it was a workmanlike 49 points. No one realized Bobby had broken the record until afterward.”
That historic outing was part of a remarkable three-game stretch in which Lewis scored 125 points. He had 43 against Richmond and 33 versus Vanderbilt before netting the 49 during the 115-80 victory over Florida State.
Lewis still owns another school record with five straight games of 30 points or more, which was also achieved that season. Lewis averaged 27.4 points per game during the 1965-66 season, the second-highest figure in North Carolina history behind Rosenbluth’s 28 points per game average in 1956-57.
“Bobby was a pure scorer who was very versatile. He could score inside or outside,” Bennett said. “He had a beautiful jump shot with great range and could score around the basket because he was a great leaper.”
Bennett said Lewis had rare athleticism for that era and remembers he could nearly touch the top of the backboard while jumping from a standing start.
Lewis scored 740 points in 27 games during his junior campaign, which ranks fifth in North Carolina history. He was leading the nation in scoring average the entire season until coach Dean Smith used his famous “four corners” offense to hold the ball for long stretches in hopes of upsetting Duke. Lewis did not score a single point as Duke beat North Carolina, 21-20, in a game that was often cited by critics calling for college basketball to implement a shot clock.
“If it weren’t for what happened in that Duke game, Bobby probably would have led the nation in scoring that season,” Bennett said. “As great a scorer as Bobby was, he was very unselfish. If you were five feet closer and open he would pass you the ball.”
D.C. legend
Lewis is one of the most legendary basketball players to come out of the talent-rich Washington metropolitan area. He grew up in the Grover Park area of northwest D.C. and developed his skills at Jelleff’s Boys Club in Georgetown.
Lewis was recruited to play at St. John’s College High by legendary coach Joe Gallagher. He averaged 25.4 points in being named first team All-Metro by The Washington Post as a junior. Lewis averaged 27.4 points as a senior, was a repeat selection as first team All-Metro and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show as a Parade Magazine All-American for the 1962-63 season.
Numerous college basketball powers recruited Lewis before he chose North Carolina. Smith and assistant coach Larry Brown had come to D.C. many times to watch the prospect play for St. John’s and visit the family home.
“I could have pretty much gone anywhere I wanted, but loved everything about North Carolina and liked the idea of playing down south where it was warm,” Lewis said. “I guess you could say I was Coach Smith’s first big recruit.”
Smith, who had been a Carolina assistant for three years, was promoted to replace Frank McGuire for the 1961-62 season and endured an 8-9 record. The Tar Heels went 12-12 in Smith’s third season and were 6-7 following a disappointing road loss at Wake Forest during the 1964-65 campaign. Lewis led the way as that Tar Heels team won nine of its last 11 games to finish 15-9.
Smith never had another non-winning season for the rest of his 36-year tenure.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Bobby played a big part in saving Coach Smith’s career,” Bennett said. “Bobby carried those early teams offensively until Dean was able to get some more talent into the program.”
North Carolina broke through in the 1966-67 season — posting a 26-6 record, capturing the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and reaching the NCAA Final Four. Smith had added another scoring threat in guard Larry Miller, who became a two-time ACC Player of the Year.
After playing out of position for two seasons, Lewis moved to wing guard as a senior and became more of a playmaker, averaging a career-low 18.1 points while ranking second on the squad in assists. As a senior co-captain, Lewis mentored a group of five sophomores that would become the only class in ACC history to capture the regular season championship and tournament title in three straight seasons.
“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Bobby Lewis. He came on board and really got things rolling. I think Bobby has been overlooked with his importance to the program,” forward Bill Bunting said during an interview with GoHeels.com in 2018.
Lewis was named first team All-ACC twice and was a two-time Associated Press third team All-American. He also made the ACC All-Tournament team as a junior and senior and was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1967 NCAA East Regional after scoring 31 points against Boston College in the championship game.
Lewis still ranks fourth in Carolina history in career scoring average (22.1) and 12th with 1,836 total points. He stands second all-time for most games with 30 points or more (12) in a single season.
For Lewis, the greatest honor is that his No. 22 jersey hangs in the rafters of the Dean Dome.
“Bobby is not nearly as well known as he should be considering all that he accomplished as a Carolina basketball player,” Bennett said. “In terms of pure basketball artistry, Bobby Lewis was the best I ever saw. He was incredibly talented and was a pleasure to have as a teammate because he gave everything he had in every game.”
Lewis played four seasons of professional basketball in the NBA with the San Francisco Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. He married high school sweetheart Bettejane Burrows in 1967 and they settled in the Woodland Beach community of Edgewater, residing in a home on Londontown Court for 30 years. They moved to a waterfront property on Turkey Point Island in Mayo 22 years ago.
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