Bender, Lou "Lulu"

Louis Bender

A three-time All-Ivy League, three-time All-Metropolitan (New York City), and two-time All-America in the early 1930s, Bender was one of the greatest basketball players in the history of Columbia University. The Ivy League�s top scorer in 1930 and 1931, he led Columbia to the conference championship both years. Hall of Famer Barney Sedran called Bender "one of the finest players of his day."

In 1931, his junior season, Bender was named to Hall of Fame coach Nat Holman's All-Met team for the second consecutive year. The Columbia forward "particularly impressed Holman with his keen basketball sense and his great aggressiveness...more closely approaches the standing of play set by professional performers than any other [college player]..." (New York Times, March 4, 1931)

A professional basketball player in the 1930s, Bender became a lawyer when his playing days ended. As an assistant U.S. attorney in New York's Southern District, he worked as a federal prosecutor, then started his own law practice in the mid-1940s.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. March 8, 1910

Career Highlights:
An outstanding player at Columbia in the early 1930s, Bender got his collegiate career off to a resounding start in 1930, when he led the Ivy League in scoring with 98 points (9.8 average). A product of DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City, Bender was named first team All-Ivy League (unanimously) and Christy Walsh first team All-America at forward, as the Lions won the conference title with a record of 9-1 (17-5 overall). "Lulu" was also named to CCNY coach Nat Holman�s All-Metropolitan first team. One of his teammates that year, Sam Schoenfeld, was also named first team All-Ivy League.

The following year, Bender repeated as the Ivy League scoring champion with 96 points in 10 games. Columbia went undefeated in conference play (12-0), and easily won their second consecutive Ivy League title. Bender was again named first team Ivy League and to Holman�s All-Metropolitan first team as Columbia finished with an overall record of 21-2; the Lions were considered one of the top teams in the country (an official poll did not exist until the late 1940s).

One of Columbia's games that year was played against Fordham in an experimental triple-header fundraiser sponsored by the mayor's office to raise money for unemployment relief caused by the Great Depression. Headlined by St. John's legendary "Wonder Five" squad, six New York City teams battled at Madison Square Garden. Columbia defeated Fordham, 26-18; Bender was the game's high-scorer with eight points. The series was a resounding success, raised over $22,000, and is considered one of the most important events in basketball history. Within five years, the Garden was holding dozen of double-headers each season as teams from across the nation played there.

In 1932, Bender returned for his senior season as Columbia's captain -- and although a knee injury slowed his scoring ability, it brought out "...his real value of as a passer and a team man." Scoring 73 points in nine games (he was seventh in the conference with an 8.1 average), Bender was named College Humor first team All-America, first team All-Met, and first team All-Ivy as he was joined in Columbia's starting lineup by guard Len Hartman. The Lions finished the season with an overall record of 14-5. Their 8-2 record in the conference tied them for first with Princeton; but in a playoff game for the championship, the Tigers clawed the Lions to win the crown.

Origin:
New York City

Career Dates:
Bender played forward at Columbia University, 1930-1932. He played professionally for the Celtics in 1934, the Union City Reds in 1936, Boston Trojans in 1938, and the New York Whirlwinds in 1941.

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