The Thunderbird Monday, Novem6er 14, 1983 Page 11 An unidentified Western New Mexico ballcarrier is seized by Tai Vaimaona (47) and Gene Gatza (35) as a host of Thunderbirds approach to ensure the in the Homecoming game Saturday. capture. SUSC beat New Mexico, 21-1- Difficult catch sets up touchdown; SUSC wins by Paul Husselbee The feat of catching a pass, in and of itself, doesnt excite many sports fans. People do it all the time. However, when Will James gathered in a Jeff line Hookano pass at the Western New Mexico to set up the winning touchdown in SUSCs 3 victory Saturday, he did it under extraordinary circumstances. James, who in the past has been accused of being a track man in a football uniform, held on to the ball after being hit hard by three defenders and after suffering a separated shoulder. The reception was James second big catch of the day. With just 38 seconds remaining m the first half, 21-1- T-Bi- rd touchdown strike from James caught a Hookano to put SUSC ahead 14-In all, the senior split end had three receptions for 99 yards, and he accomplished a personal goal, said Thunderbird Coach Don Conrad. Theres never been any question about Wills speed, Conrad said. But hes had a problem catching the ball m the past. He has improved this year, and he wanted to show people he could play football. ..that hes not a track man only. SUSC took a 0 lead midway through the first period when Hookano passed to Gary Mason for touchdown. Mason caught the ball and a eluded two defenders before diving into the end zone for the score. Five minutes into the third period, Doug Spencer drive by vaulting into capped an eight-plathe end zone from three yards out to give Western New Mexico its first score. The visitors added another score when Vince Matthews passed 15 yards to Kent Grider later in the quarter, but Tai Vaimaona dashed any Mustang hopes of a comeback when he blocked the extra point. Conrad said he was pleased with the effort of his I felt we played consistently on both Thunderbirds. sides of the bally he said. SUSC gained 216 yards on the ground, led by Curry Ancar, who picked up 93 yards on 17 carries, and touchdown run late in the third added a of the victory. quarter to assure the basketball preview set for Tuesday The 1983 SUSC Thunderbird basketball squad, with new coaches Bob Schermerhorn and bill Evans intact, will be introduced to the public Tuesday in ? special Basketball Preview Night. Action will get underway at 7.30 p.m. in War Memorial Fieldhouse. There will be no admission charge. The squad is scheduled to run through warm up drills for roughly 25 minutes before players are introduced to the fans, said SUSC Sports Information Director Jim Robinson. Following player introductions, an halves, will be scrimmage, consisting of tvo played, Robinson said. Players and coaches will be available to the fans for intra-squa- d interviews, photos and autographs at the conclusion of the scrimmage, he added. The SUSC squad fecures some new wrinkles this season, including a heigh' factor that Thunderbird fans hav never seen the likes of. Though he wont be eligible to play m league games r Bob Evans is expected until ea.ly January, to bolster SUSCs hopes of defending the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title it won with a 16-- 2 record a year ago. Evans, a transfer from Texas Tech University, will be backed up by John Pierce, a 8 junior, and 3ryan Olson, a senior. Pierce and Olson w,ll most likely share the centers duties until Evans can participate. seven-foote- The Thunderbirds will play their first home game of the season Nov. 22, a week after the preview night, when a South American team comes to War Memorial Fieldhouse for an exhibition game. The Sino Sports Club, an amateur squad from Sao Paulo, Brazil, will stop in Cedar City to test the Thunderbirds en route to Salt Lake City on an American tour. Many of the Sino players will likely play for Brazils basketball delegation to the 1984 Olympics, Schermerhorn said. 6-- 1 SUSC is slated to entertain New Mexico Highlands Dec. 5 in this seasons first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference test for the Thunderbirds.