| OCR Text |
Show 'Birds face tough teams, do well CEDAR CITY The Southern Utah State College basketball team has played four tough NCAA schools on the road in their last four games and performed admirably, though without a win. What will they do for an encore? Rest! SUSC continued in their attempt to slay an NCAA giant Friday and Saturday as they took on Weber State and Idaho State, falling to Weber 76-59 and ISU 90-74. Both games, especially against Weber, were closer than the scores indicated as the cliche goes. Will taking on tough larger schools help the T-Birds this season and in the future? " I think when we go on the road in our conference, this experience is really going to pay-off for us," said an always enthusiastic Tom McCracken, SUSC coach. Against Weber State, the 'Birds were very well prepared and led by as much as live in the encounter. "We were very well prepared," said McCrackenT'We knew what we had to do to win the hiillgame. It worked very well for us except lor about six minutes of the game." Those six minutes included the last minute or so of the first half. Southern Utah led by live and had committed only two turnovers in the game to that point. They made three in the final minute, some close calls went the wrong way and Weber converted and went in at the half with a one-point lead. "That was a poor minute for us," said McCracken. There were several minutes in the second half in which the T-Birds hurried their shots and let things get away from them. That was also the case at the end of the game when Weber State turned a close game into a more lopsided looking affair. "The score was much m more lopsided than the basketball game was," said McCracken matter-of-factly. Actually, SUSC didn't play too badly in the second half but Weber played superbley. They hit 16-20 shots from the field for the half. That's an 80 percent clip and that's mighty tough to beat. Weber was 26-31 and SU 9-12 from the line which isn't too even in anybody's scorebook. SUSC had only 10 turnovers while Weber committed 16 for the game. Hal Welch hit for 18 points and Willie Hicks sank 10 lor the 'Birds. In the rebound department, Dean O'Driscoll had six and Norman Adams live. Against Idaho State, the Thunderbirds pei formed well, though not at the level they did against Weber. "We were not sharp," quipped McCracken. "It's hard to come to an emotionalpeak like that two nights in a row." Despite the fact that SUSC wasn't as sharp as McCracken might have hoped .. lor, they weren't embarrassed by ISU bv anv means. Idaho State played superb defense and their efforts were praised by McCracken. "We haven't played anvbodv that plays defense like Idaho State," complimented the coach. "They were a super defensive team." ISU jumped to an early lead but the Birds fought back and made a game of it. The ha If time score was 35-29 for ISU and SUSC stayed within about 5-6 points throughout most of the second half. With several minutes left, things got away from Southern Utah and Idaho State pulled away to their final margin of victory, 16 points. Dean O'Driscoll played a super game for SUSC, hitting 20 points and grabbing six boards. Carl Anderson added 14 points coming off the bench. Hal Welch hit 11 and Steve Hoagland 10. SUSC will now be gearing-up for the Color Country Classic which they will host next week. .. . ,.-v t ' , v' - -&r I ' . ; ? " i v - f l 'V-r ' :-':' ' I - - - If- " i, " fi excellent game and led by as much as live points in the contest before succumbing. .... - - Southern Utah State's I5ig Dwain (early launches one over the outstretched grasp of a Weber State defender. SUSC nave WSC an |
