Purdue University

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Lore & Background

Dischinger's journey at Purdue began in earnest during his sophomore season (1959–1960), where the 6'7" guard/forward led an 11–12 team with averages of 26.3 points and 14.3 rebounds per game. On January 9, 1960, he grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds against Wisconsin, just one shy of Carl McNulty's school record from 1951. His junior year (1960–1961) saw him named First Team All-American as he led the Big Ten with 28.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. A defining moment occurred on February 25, 1961, when Dischinger scored a career-high 52 points against Michigan State, breaking Jerry Lucas's prior conference record of 48. Just two days later, on February 27, he set another school record by making 21 free throws in a single game against Iowa.

In Their Own Story

Dischinger's senior season (1961–1962) was capped by a dramatic performance in his final game. On March 12, playing with a sprained ankle against Michigan, he scored 30 points to help close out his college career. That year, he led the conference in both scoring (30.3 points) and rebounding (13.4), earning a second straight First Team All-American selection. He attempted a single-season Purdue record of 350 free throws. Over three varsity seasons, Dischinger averaged a double-double of 28.3 points and 13.7 rebounds, shooting 55.3% from the floor and 81.9% from the line in 70 games. He left Purdue holding almost every scoring record, including nine 40-plus-point games and 1,979 total career points, the second-most in school history at the time behind only Joe Barry Carroll's later mark.

Reader's Guide

Fans of Purdue basketball should note that Dischinger's records stood until Dave Schellhase and Rick Mount began breaking them within the next decade. His legacy includes holding the school record for 713 made free throws out of 871 attempts and averaging 14.3 rebounds per game over his career. While freshmen were not allowed to play varsity basketball during his era, Dischinger's impact as a sophomore immediately reshaped the program's offensive identity. His ability to score from anywhere on the floor was evident in his 52-point explosion against Michigan State and his consistency in leading the Big Ten for three straight years.

Did You Know?

• Dischinger scored a career-high 52 points against Michigan State on February 25, 1961, breaking Jerry Lucas's Big Ten record of 48.
• In his next game after scoring 52 points, he set a single-game school record by making 21 free throws against Iowa on February 27, 1961.
• Dischinger played his final college game on March 12, 1962, against Michigan while playing with a sprained ankle and still scoring 30 points.
• He attempted a single-season Purdue record of 350 free throws during his senior year (1961–1962).
• Dischinger was named the Purdue MVP for each of his three varsity seasons.