Ira Dayton Allen was a big man who played a big role in the biggest comeback in the history of college basketball.

It was Mr. Allen's layup with a minute to play on a pass from Dick Groat that led Duke to a 74-72 victory against Tulane on Dec. 30, 1950, for fifth place in the Dixie Classic. Duke had trailed by as many as 32 points -- 54-22 -- in the first half. The game leads the list of the NCAA's greatest collegiate comebacks.

Mr. Allen, a strong, 6-foot-8, 240-pound center known more for his rebounding than scoring ability, had 11 points.

Mr. Allen, who played basketball at McKeesport High School for coaching legend Neenie Campbell, died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Mount Carroll, Ill. He was 73.

When Mr. Allen graduated from McKeesport, he and Groat, who played at Swissvale, made a recruiting trip together to visit Duke.

"We became very close friends," said Groat, who also played for the Pirates' 1960 World Series team during a 15-year Major League baseball career. "You couldn't help but like Dayton. He was a big, friendly guy. We were fraternity brothers in Sigma Chi which was the basketball fraternity.

"Dayton was a strong, very physical kid who ran the court well, had good hands and was a very solid rebounder."

Although Mr. Allen and Groat went in different directions following college, Groat kept track of Mr. Allen in recent years through his sister, the late Anna Mae Allen, who lived near Groat in Edgewood.

"She told me how he was doing," Groat said. "He was a good friend and teammate."

After college, Mr. Allen served in the Air Force during the Korean War as a second lieutenant in intelligence. When he left the Air Force, he worked in airline food service in Cleveland and Chicago and owned a restaurant equipment business in Chicago before he retired.

Mr. Allen is survived by his wife, Lorna Moag Allen; daughters Lorna Norrell of Austin, Texas, Cindy Coppert of Sycamore, Ill., and Lisa Pilata of Batavia, Ill.; sons Dayton Allen of St. Charles, Ill., and Blaine Allen of Chicago; and sisters Laura Bowers of Erie; and Lois Allen of Wilkins.

Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice or to the McKeesport High School Alumni Association or the Neenie Campbell Foundation, both at 336 Shaw Ave., McKeesport 15132.