By Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Staff

On January 20, 1968, history was made at the Houston Astrodome. In what some basketball historians consider the game of the 20th century, the University of Houston Cougars ended the UCLA Bruins' 47-game win streak with a nail-bitingly close 71-69 victory.

It was No. 1 UCLA versus No. 2 Houston. Houston's Elvin Hayes versus UCLA's Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Coaching legend John Wooden vs. Guy Lewis.

It was a showdown of epic proportions that lived up to its pregame hype, as it took two free throws by Hayes in the final 29 seconds for Houston to secure the victory.

It was the first nationally televised basketball game ever, but Champions Tour player Lanny Wadkins was lucky enough to actually see it in person.

Wadkins, though, wasn't just at the game -- he was a very special guest. As one of the top junior golfers in the country at the time, he was being heavily recruited for the Houston golf team.

"I remember they put my name on the big scoreboard that night," Wadkins said. "And I saw Hayes in the cafeteria at the school in the afternoon prior to the big game."

His name displayed in front of a record 52,693 fans. A cafeteria encounter with the Big E, who scored 39 points in the big game while limiting Alcindor to just 15. Surely this once-in-a-lifetime visit persuaded Wadkins to attend Houston, right?

"It didn't sway me," Wadkins said. "Wake won out because I just loved the school and the surroundings."

Wadkins eventually became a top player in the game of golf just as Alcindor and Hayes were in basketball. After attending Wake Forest, he amassed 21 victories, including the 1977 PGA Championship, while on the PGA TOUR. Currently, when not working with CBS Sports, for whom he is the lead analyst for golf telecasts, Wadkins plays on the Champions Tour.

This week, he will compete in the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic with his son, 13-year-old Tucker. Wadkins' younger brother Bobby, also a professional golfer, will play with his son Casey, who is 16. The brothers and sons will compete as a foursome in the unique pro-am tournament.

To some, a father/son pairing might not beat attending the big game all those years ago. But to Lanny, who lists watching his sons play sports as his biggest thrill outside of golf, it's the precious family moments that matter the most.