Former Pistons Forward, Bowling Green Hall of Famer Cornelius Cash Dies

Cornelius Cash Jr. didn't use the gift of size to become a point-scoring machine. In college at Bowling Green, and briefly as a pro, he honed his skill as a shot-blocker and rebounder to forge a reputation as a defensive menace.

Cash's place in the Bowling Green Hall of Fame was built more on the 1,068 rebounds he grabbed than the 1,245 points he scored over three years on the Falcons' varsity team from 1972-75.

Cash, the 24th overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft who played briefly for the Detroit Pistons, died Aug. 31. He was 74.

Cash's 1,068 rebounds and 13.5 rebounds per game at Bowling Green remain second all-time in school history to Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond. His 1.5 blocks per game are second all-time to Richaun Holmes.

As a sophomore in 1972-73, Cash averaged 18 points and 15.2 rebounds, ranking eighth nationally in rebounding and first among forwards. He was named Bowling Green's Most Valuable Player and received honorable-mention All-America recognition. He twice grabbed 23 rebounds in a game that season and scored 32 points against Loyola Chicago.

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Cash averaged 14 points and 12.4 rebounds as a junior and set what remains Bowling Green's single-season record with 59 blocked shots. As a senior, he averaged 15.3 points and a conference-leading 13 rebounds per game.

In February 1975, Cash became only the third player in Mid-Atlantic Conference history to reach 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Thurmond and Miami's Wayne Embry.

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The Bucks selected Cash with their second-round pick in the 1975 NBA draft (24th overall). He did not appear in a game for Milwaukee, which waived him that November.

The Detroit Pistons signed Cash in July 1976. In six games during the 1976-77 season, Cash averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game. Detroit waived him in November 1976, effectively ending his NBA career.

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Later, Cash played professional basketball in Belgium, Yugoslavia, and Brazil.

Cash retired to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio and worked at Howard Paper Company and Houser Asphalt & Concrete. Cash had three children (Erica, Cornelius III and Robert).

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