Globetrotters Stop All-Stars

MINNEAPOLIS —  The Harlem Globetrotters are more interesting when mixing competitive basketball with their famous routines.

But even when they play it straight the Globetrotters can be hard to beat.

Their latest victory was over a college all-star team put together by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches as part of the Final Four activities.

The all-stars, featuring players such as Sean Lampley of California, Dean Oliver of Iowa and Eric Chenowith of Kansas, pushed the Globetrotters Friday night before losing, 75-63, in front of 15,253 at the Target Center.

It was the second victory in two seasons for the Globetrotters against the all-stars. The Globetrotters will again play a college all-star team at next year’s Final Four in Atlanta, fulfilling a three-year contract with the NABC. It will be decided then whether to continue the series, or whether to return to the NABC’s traditional East-West format.

Last year, the Globetrotters needed a basket at the buzzer to win. That was not necessary Friday. The Globetrotters, despite making only 41.5% of their shots and committing 19 turnovers, controlled most of the game by holding the all-stars to 36.6% shooting and making 10 steals.

“It was a little difficult because you never knew whether to expect them to go into their tricks, and we didn’t want to get embarrassed,” said Oliver, who scored nine points.