15 Facts About Ira Harge

Ira Lee Harge was born on March 14,1941 and is a retired American professional basketball player.

Ira Harge played professionally in the American Basketball Association for six seasons, playing on two ABA championship teams.

Ira Harge earned a master's degree in education from UNM in 1969 and became a coach and teacher in Albuquerque after his playing career ended.

Ira Harge initially enrolled at Bowling Green but was forced to cut short his freshman year and return home when his father became ill.

Ira Harge then went to Burlington Junior College in Iowa, where he was named a Juco All-American as a freshman after averaging 31 points and 21 rebounds a game.

Ira Harge averaged 39 a game in the JC national championship tournament, including a high game of 47 points.

Ira Harge averaged 26.4 a game as a sophomore, leading Burlington to a conference title.

Ira Harge transferred as a junior to New Mexico in 1962 to play for new Lobo coach Bob King, and together they would transform the program over the next two years.

Ira Harge led the team, averaging 21.1 points and 13.2 rebounds a game, setting then-Lobo records for points and rebounds in a season.

Ira Harge spearheaded a defense that gave up fewer than 58 points a game on the season, and the team's success led to the first sell out of a Lobo home game.

Ira Harge was selected with the 4th pick in the 2nd round in the 1964 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Ira Harge played on the Pittsburgh Pipers team that won the 1968 ABA Championship, and he won the 1969 ABA Championship with the Oakland Oaks.

Ira Harge maintained a double-double average over the course of his ABA career and ranks tenth on the ABA's all-time list for total rebounds.

Ira Harge earned a degree from UNM in education and coached and taught in the Albuquerque Public School system from 1965 to 1967, before returning to basketball.

In 1986, Ira Harge was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1993 he was inducted into the UNM Athletics Hall of Honor.