Louisiana Athletics Mourns The Passing of Dwight "Bo" Lamar

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Athletics and the entire Ragin' Cajuns community mourn the passing of UL Hall of Fame basketball standout Dwight "Bo" Lamar, who died early Monday in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. He was 74.

A cornerstone in then-Southwestern Louisiana's rise from a small-school NAIA program to a national force at the Division I level, Lamar starred for the Ragin' Cajuns from 1969-73 under legendary coach Beryl Shipley. During his four-year career, Lamar scored 3,493 points and helped elevate the program onto the national stage.

Lamar led the nation's Division I College Division in scoring during the 1970-71 season at 36.0 points per game and surpassed that mark as a junior in 1971-72, averaging 36.3 points per contest to pace the University Division.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bo Lamar," Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Bryan Maggard said. "Bo was a true legend of Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball, and his remarkable career brought pride and excitement to our university and to the countless fans who filled Blackham Coliseum to watch him play.

"His legacy continues to inspire generations of Ragin' Cajuns. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to the Lamar family during this difficult time."

Lamar finished his career with a 31.2 points-per-game average and led the Ragin' Cajuns to a 90-23 overall record. Over his final three seasons, the school posted a 74-13 mark, trailing only UCLA nationally during that span.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Lamar arrived in Lafayette after earning just two scholarship offers out of East High School.

"I used to play basketball from noon to midnight on the playgrounds," Lamar recalled. "You had to be good to play that long. If you lose one on the playgrounds, you don't get back on the court for an hour or so."

As a freshman, Lamar joined an already established backcourt that featured senior Marvin Winkler, who averaged 25.6 points per game and earned Little All-America honors. Lamar averaged 22.8 points and was named Gulf States Conference Freshman of the Year.

USL shared the GSC title that season with Louisiana Tech after three losses to North Louisiana opponents, including a dramatic overtime setback in Ruston in which Winkler scored 40 points and Lamar added 37.

The following season, Lamar took center stage, averaging 36.0 points per game and leading the Ragin' Cajuns to a 25-4 record, a No. 1 national ranking in the college division for much of the year and a third-place finish in the national playoffs.

Known for his deep shooting range, Lamar set a school record with 62 points against Northeast Louisiana, converting 26 of 48 field-goal attempts.

After moving into the University Division in 1971-72, Lamar again averaged better than 36 points per game, becoming the first player to win national scoring titles in both the college and university divisions in consecutive seasons. USL finished ranked in the Top 10 nationally in each of his final two seasons, the program's best showing since the Bob Pettit era at LSU in 1953-54.

As a senior in 1972-73, Lamar guided USL back to the NCAA Tournament and ranked sixth nationally in scoring.

Following his collegiate career, Lamar played professionally in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association with Buffalo, Indiana and Los Angeles. He later returned to the Lafayette area, serving as a radio color analyst for Ragin' Cajuns basketball broadcasts.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

EDITOR'S NOTE - The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame contributed to this release; this story will be updated

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Louisiana Athletics Mourns The Passing of Dwight "Bo" Lamar

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