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Show PAGEB12 Your Sports MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2005 Meeks Where have all the fans gone to? Over the last couple of months, I have spent a lot of time wondering why the McKay Events Center is so empty every time our basketball teams play? Is it because it costs too much? No, because as students we get in for free. Then it must be because we love to study so much that we cannot drop the books for a couple of hours. Again, probably not, I mean how many of us actually love Senior guard Ronnie Price (#24) led UVSC to a 96-73 victory to study so much that we can't take a two-hour break to watch a basketball game? While we are still considered a "commuter school." most of us" do live close enough to UVSC that the travel time shouldn't be an issue. Well, it looks like I've accounted for the basic excuses nie Price," Hunsaker said. Ryan Meeks students may have for not at"He played like the competiYour Sports Editor tending UVSC athletic events. tor that he is. The players all And even though games are Excitement filled the air as feed off what the best player free, close by and offer us a the Utah Valley State men's does." break from our studies, few basketball team was anDavid Heck tied his career of us go. nounced before tip-off, and high in points with 20 points Why is this? We have the for the first time this year, the off the bench, to go along with most exciting player in the game was exciting from start eight rebounds. "Heck played state in Ronnie Price; a player to finish, culminating in a 96- a complete game tonight," who is currently ranked as the 73 win over Texas A&M Cor- Hunsaker said. "It was probsecond best collegiate player pus Christi. ably his best performance at (the first at his position) in In a fast-paced and domi- UVSC." the nation by CBS Sportsline. nant fashion, the Wolverines Two other Wolverines also Yet it looks at times like he easily handled an Islanders finished the game in double is getting more notice and at- squad that is currently ranked figures, Ben Devoe contintention outside of UVSC than in the top 25 in the Mid Ma- ued his recent strong play by inside. jor Polls. chipping in 10 points and five So far this season, at least "We were very aggressive," rebounds and Pierre Thomsix NBA teams have sent UVSC head coach Dick Hun- as added 15 points to help scouts to watch Price play. On saker said. "We came out and UVSC to their highest point the court, things could not be played well early on and we total of the season. better for Price. But less than were able to sustain it." But according to coach ten feet away, the situation is While the win showcased Hunsaker, the most important in desperate need of help. the talents of guard Ronnie player in the game was HeWhen these NBA scouts Price (30 points, 6 assists), ber City native Josh Cottle. come to watch Ronnie play, his teammates fed off his ag- "When he entered the game, they must wonder why there gressive play and fearlessness things stabilized," Hunsaker is not more fan support. and continued to step up their said. "I just thought he was Who could blame them for play. "Ronnie Price was Ron- terrific. He deserves a game this, when three-fourths of the McKay Center is empty, while one of the most exciting and explosive players in all of college basketball makes his home there. Just a couple of years ago, the McKay Center used to be packed with fans. Now we are lucky to get 800 fans to moved to Virginia when he Zachary Fraser a game, even though we face was ten, and after a college Sports Writer better competition and have career at Miami University of made the jump to Division I When Utah Valley State Ohio that concluded in 2000, came into existence in the fall he spent much of the last four playof 1941 (then known as Cen- years playing professionally Whatever the case or reason may be that we do not at- tral Utah Vocational School), in Belgium and France. Utah tend Wolverine athletics, one it was hard to believe that the Valley State is his first foray thing is definitely for sure. It founders envisioned such a into coaching, and his interrich, culturally diverse cam- national flair helps him teach is time to make a change. We need to start showing pus as exists today. From stu- and recruit. our support. There are only a dents and student-athletes to "I can relate to everybody," few more chances, to watch faculty and staff, the campus he said. "I have something in Price play in person. Before flourishes with contributors common with 90 percent of long he will be gone. And from all around the globe. the people I meet. I've played if he makes it to the NBA, Refiloe Lethunya, assis- on the national team where wouldn't it be great to hon- tant men's basketball coach, I have faced countries from estly say that you watched then, is a perfect fit. Born in Asia. I've had a lot of opporhim play back in college. London, England, Lethunya tunities to see how basketball At the same time, we have spent the first ten years of his is played in different ways." the opportunity to watch as life growing up in Maseru, At 6-foot-8, Lethunya, who Ronnie plays unselfishly and in the Kingdom of Lesotho, played center and forward a beautiful mountain coun- in college and the European "Speaks" cont'd on page Bl I try in Southern Africa. He pro leagues, can offer a lot Steve Lundtjuiit/NeiXNews over Texas A&M Corpus Christi last Thursday night, giving UVSC their fourth straight win. Driving towards perfection ball." While Cottle scored eight points and added five assists; his defense against Islanders ball handlers not only turned the game the Wolverines way, it led to multiple turnovers and offensive fouls by frustrated Corpus Christi players. Overall, coach Hunsaker seems pleased with his team's progression as they head into the final stretch of the season. "Everybody is getting better," Hunsaker said. • For the game, UVSC shot 57 percent from the field after shooting 65 percent from the floor durSteve Lundquiit/NetXHews ing the second foalf of the Sophomore David Heck has played with greater intensity and game and only turned the aggression this year, and has improved all aspects of his game. ball over 5 times. In fact about the only thing Hunthis Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the that is currently ranked numsaker could have complained McKay Center and on Feb. ber two in the nation. After about was the fact that his 1 they will go on the road to which they will then head team only shot 68 percent play a Nebraska squad that back home on Feb. 4, to host from the free-throw line. last week only lost by two Johnson & Wales. UVSC will play Idaho State points to a Kansas squad in the huddle Coach spotlight: Refiloe Lelhunya of advice to Wolverine big men Ben Devoe and Chike Ekweozor. He can also help recruit the big men that UVSC is desperately in need of. Currently, they only have three players on the roster bigger than 6-foot-5: Devoe, Ekweozor, and forward David Heck. "My advantage is I've done what a majority of college athletes want to accomplish," Lethunya said. "I've played with two lottery picks in college. I've gone . to the NCAA tournament and played professionally. I can tell them what it takes and "Huddle" cont' on page B11 Refiloe Lethunya |