OKLAHOMA CITY -- Bud Koper came to Oklahoma City University from the tiny town of Rocky, Okla., and made a friend for life in coach Abe Lemons.

		Tuesday, Sept 3 College basketball has lost a special person. I was so sorry to hear about the death of Abe Lemons at age 79. More

"He was like a second father to me,'' Koper said of Lemons, who died Monday at age 79. "I was very fortunate to get to play for Abe.''

Koper and others who played at OCU under Lemons remembered him fondly, saying he was a demanding but fair coach who made playing the games fun.

They also said Lemons' quick wit and one-liners overshadowed his coaching talent.

"He was a good coach and I think his record speaks for itself,'' said Gary Hill, an All-America guard under Lemons.

"I know when I was playing, a lot of people said he was a good recruiter but wasn't a very good coach. But he just had too many winning seasons. It wasn't all recruiting.''

Lemons compiled a record of 599-343 in 34 seasons, coaching at OCU twice, Texas-Pan American and the University of Texas. He took OCU to the NCAA Tournament seven times, and won the NIT championship at Texas in 1978.

Arnold Short, Lemons' first All-American, came to OCU from Weatherford. He said the fact Lemons also grew up in a small town, Walters, may have helped him connect with players from rural areas.

"I think he basically had an understanding of people, and people would identify with him,'' Short said. "He was a really good person and a wonderful, wonderful coach.''

Hill, who played at OCU from 1959-63, said Lemons tried to teach more than basketball. Hill recalled playing a game in St. Louis, where the pregame meal was a seven-course Italian dinner.

"He understood it was a place most of us wouldn't get to go to,'' Hill said. "When we went to some of these places, he believed in having a good experience.''

Oklahoma City played an uptempo style of basketball that the players enjoyed. But the Chiefs, now called the Stars, also worked hard on defense, something Lemons' players say was underappreciated.

"Someone might say, 'You gave up 100 points,' and he'd say, 'Look at the other side, we scored 115,'' Koper said. "We did all the full-court presses and traps and zone presses, and other people got credit for it.''

Oklahoma City University's basketball arena is named Abe Lemons Arena. Just recently, workers finished painting Lemons' name onto the court.

Koper said Lemons always stayed in touch through the years.

"He was just a good man,'' he said. "Anything you ever needed, he was there for you.''