1952 - Men’s basketball team wins the National Invitation Tournament championship

In 1952, the Saint Louis Billikens men’s basketball team won the National Invitation Tournament championship for the second time. Led by coach Ed Hickey and future Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, the Billikens defeated the defending champion City College of New York in the championship game. Pettit was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history, while the 1952 championship remains one of the highlights of Saint Louis basketball history.