| Show r - fW mwiew BriifTirnpry Standatd-Examin- Sports Thursday February 4 1999 SB Aggies aim to resume resurgence on road By RANDY HOLDS Standard-Examin- 8:35 pm tipoff stall The road has not been kind to the Aggies this season But that’s where Utah State ) University’s basketball team : finds itself this weekend back out on the road again in what k could be a week in its bid to climb up the league ladder in this year’s Big West Conference standings The Aggies have won just twice in seven games away from home thus far this season ' They’re hoping to improve on that shaky performance begin- mng tonight when they invade Fullerton Calif to face Cal State Fullerton at 8:05 pm MST Then on Saturday Utah State visits Reno Nev to tangle with the University of Nevada in an make-or-brea- ’ Utah State squared its Big with a pair of West record at wins last impressive weekend The Aggies thrashed North Texas 1 a week ago then stopped New Mexico State 4-- home-cou- 4 rt 92-6- which rolled into Logan boasting an unbeaten 0 Big West mark by a score of 4 last Saturday 7-- 61-5- Those wins not only entrenched Utah State’s fourth-plac- e standing in the Big West’s Eastern Division standings but they served to bolster the Aggies’ confidence as well “I think we have our confidence back” USU senior center Donnie Johnson said “Our confidence is real good going into this next road trip” Johnson had a lot to do with that as he earned a share of the Big West’s player of the week award with his performances against North Texas and New Mexico State He totalled 28 points 23 rebounds four assists and four blocked shots in the two wins and he shot a slick from the field in the two Utah State University basketball Tonight’s game: Utah State vs Cal State FuHerton Titan Gym (3500) Fullerton Calif Saturday’s game: Utah State vs Nevada 8 35 pm Lawtor Events Center (1 1 200) Reno Nev Records: Utah State (11-- 8 overall 4 Big West): Cal 7 5 State Fullerton (9-Big West) Nevada Big West plays tonight at KVFX-FKVNU-ANo TV 610 (Logan) 700 (Salt Lake City) 945 (Logan) KWLW-ASeries records: Utah State leads Fullerton 27-- 1 4 and has won the last 1 0 the senes Utah State le?ds Nevada 1 80 and has won five of the last seven meetings Last meetings: USU defeated Cal State Fullerton on March 7 1 998 in the Big West tournament USU lost to Nevada 2 on Feb 1 4 1998 at Reno Players to watch: For Cal State Fullerton junior forward Ike Harmon leads the way with 1 47 points and 61 rebounds pier game while two other Titans are also averaging in double figures 6-- junior guard Mark Murphy (1 1 6 points per game) and 1 1 junior guard Kenroy Jarrett (1 04 ppg) — For Nevada 3 junior guard John Burrell is averaging 1 68 points per junior center Dimitnos Marmannos averages 99 points and a game while g For Utah State senior center Donnie 63 rebounds per game Johnson has taken over as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder averaging 1 39 points and 83 boards per game Junior forward T roy Rolle adds 1 35 ppg and 6-- senior forward FTiaroah Davis checks in with 110 points and 79 rebounds pier game Stats that matter: Utah State's free throw shooting percentage of 642 this season is its lowest sines 1969 Notebook: Utah State with two wins in a row has not won three straight since starting the season 0 — USU has won four straight at Fullerton Calif Johnson now ranks eighth in school history m career blocked shots with 43 the Aggies And Nevada’s program is somewhat in a state of 805 pm head disarray after sixth-yecoach Pat Foster amidst a discampaign reappointing ar 4-- 9 5-- signed his Wolf Pack post earlier this week effective at the end of the season 18 games USU notes: Brandon Birch a If the Aggies could come sophomore forward is undergoing tests this week to determine the cause of internal bleeding m his stomach which forced him to sit out the Aggies’ game against New Mexico State last Saturday Birch might miss this week’s road trip as well away from this week’s road trip with a sweep then they could really solidify their league resurgence in the following two weeks when they play four straight games at home And this week’s opponents certainly provide USU with a golden opportunity to leap-fro- g over a team or two in the conference chase After all Cal State Fullerton hasn’t beaten Utah State since 1993 losing 10 straight times to 3-- (5-1-3 65-5- 6 73-6- - USLTs coaching staff and team trainers ltuually suspected Birch might suffer 0 5-- 6-- from anemia but tests revealed the 6-- 9 bleeding team-leadin- Birch a former Sky View High School star has played in 13 of the Aggies’ 19 games thus far this season averaging 22 points 22 rebounds and minutes of playing time per game Last year as a freshman he averaged 41 points and 26 rebounds a game 5-- ! In-sta- talent te Utes’ to USU headed By RANDY HOLLIS Standard-Examin- stall LOGAN — Two dozen football players including 10 Utah high school athletes have chosen Utah State as the place where they want to continue their football careers Of the 24 players who signed with the Ag-gies on Wednesday 17 of them are from the ' high school ranks while six are junior col-lege transfers and one is transferring from ‘ the University of Wyoming Topping the list are five local prep athletes from the Top of Utah Northridge High defensive lineman Jared Westbroek Mountain Crest quarterback Travis Cox Mountain Crest defensive end Tim Jessop and Logan High’s duo tight end Jason Stephens and defensive end Jake Stewart ea and Westbroek earned honors while playing on both the offeri- - sive and defensive lines for the Knights Cox was a first team All-Sta-te performer at Mountain Crest High where he was named Region 4’s most valuable player During his high school career Cox threw for 5190 yards and 47 touchdowns Jessop was a two-yestarter for the Mustangs who led i the team in tackles for loss this season starter at both tight Stephens a two-yeend and defensive end for Logan High se- while Stewart was a first team - lection for the Grizzlies also earning All- - Re-gion honors USU’s other signees included de- fensive tackle Brandon Bowyer a three-yestarter who helped Skyline win three straight state titles running back David Fiefia who rushed for 1600 yards and 24 touchdowns during his senior season at Hunter lineback- erdefensive end Nate Fredrick who was a three-yestarter along with Bowyer at Sky- line offensive lineman Josh Hoehne a two-sear starter for Timpview and defensive lineman Clint McKell a first team performer from Lehi - of All-Ar- All-Regi- ar class has Hawaiian flavor By JIM BURTON Standard-Examin- staff SALT LAKE CITY - A few months ago Ron McBride was in Hawaii checking out the possibility of becoming the University of Hawaii’s new football coach Ultimately the Rainbows went in a dif- ferent direction but that hasn’t kept McBride from recruiting the Island’s fertile football fields On Wednesday McBride announced the signing of 27 new recruits to his University of Utah program Of the 27 new players seven are from Hawaii an area McBride has always favored in his search for new talent Three of the seven are from St Louis High School in Honolulu where current quarterback Darnell Arceneaux played as did former Utah running back Chris Weber State at Montana Utah has never lacked for finding good talent on the Islands This year it seems they’ve done better than ever McBride is expecting a couple of his new Island players to make an immediate impact One player offensive lineman Livai seems to be a sure bet freshman from Livai a 2 Kahuku High School chose Utah over Nebraska BYU and others Joining Livia are fellow Kahuku teammates Willie Sao 4 tight end and brothers James and Tavo Tupola The three St Louis High School products are: Anthony Arceneaux younger brother of Darnell a 9 receiver offensive lineman Sean Souza and Noah Campbell a d running back Utah also inked three Top of Utah high school players on Tuesday Ben Allison a 2 200 tight end from Ogden High School and Mitch Arquette a 5 280 offensive lineman from Davis High School both signed early The Utes kept their connection with Clearfield High School alive with CHS place-kickJustin Hamblin Hamblin will likely battle two or three other players for the kicking job in spring Wildcats Polynesian players and the Lee brothers te ar ar All-Sta- te 1 999 University of Utah football Recruits From 3B Ammon Mauga and Justin Williams offensive linemen David Sollami and Brian Sanders defensive lineman Devian Mims and defensive back Alex Farris The Cougars also scored high notes within the state signing several top Utah performers Running back Fahu Tahi out of Granger High School was selected by USA Today as the Utah player of the year Punter Mike Clark from Centerville was twice named NJCAA signees an 1 999 (8-- 1 2 1 8 Big Sky) 1 240-pou- 6-- (406-of-45- three-gam- 200-poun- field-go- 6-- Wildcats battling illness er MISSOULA - Mont Mon- tana may not be Weber State’s biggest problem tonight Nearly half of WSU’s team enters tonight’s game with UM suffering from flu-lisymptoms Starters Eddie Gill Andy Jensen Noel Jackson and Damien Baskerville all have been battling illness this week and reserve center Joey Haws has bronchitis “I’m not only concerned about Montana” WSU coach Ron Abegglen said “I’m concerned about us being able to battle with ar All-Sta- te Grizzlies 79-6- 1 6-- Not surprisingly St Louis’ program is run by a close friend of McBride’s Cal Lee Lee the brother of Utah offensive coordinator Tommy Lee was also in the running for Hawaii’s head coaching job Between McBride who has always seemed to have a nice rapport with the Big Sky) 5 5-- ot 8-- 2 o: 290-pou- 6-- 7-- 6 When: 7:35 pm tonight Where: Spartan Gym (3000) Sentinel High School Missoula Mont 1 660 No TV KXOL-ASeries record: Weber State leads 48-3Last meeting: The Wildcats rolled to a 36-- 9 halftime lead and held on for a victory over the Grizzlies on Jan 9 at the Dee Events Center Players to watch: Harold Arceneaux leads the Big Sky in scoring at 227 points per game Arceneaux who averaged 37 points in WSU's two victones last week was limited to 1 5 points in WSU’s game against UM on Jan 9 Junior college transfer Matt Williams a 7 forward averages 147 points and 85 rebounds for Montana Williams had 1 6 rebounds in the Grizzlies' earlier meeting with the Wildcats in Ogden Stats that matter Weber State’s five starters have scored 91 percent of the team’s points during its past five games e Notebook: The Wildcats take a winning streak into Missoula The 'Cats have shot 563 percent from the field in those wins WSU has won three straight and 1 1 of its last 15 meetings with Montana The Grizzlies have lost seven consecutive games and have yet to win at home this season Montana’s lone win this season came at Idaho State (73-6- 1 ) on Jan 7 The Grizzlies lead the Big Sky in rebound margin rank second in scoring (65) WSU is 13-- 0 defense (70) and fourth in percentage defense (437) when leading at halftime ki 6-- (1 while at Ricks College His brother Greg is a tight end with the San Francisco 49ers Wide receiver Cody Fonnesbeck is an athlete from St George tiHe led Dixie High School to a state tle He also hails as the fastest athlete in dash in 42 secUtah running the onds Fonnesbeck’s teammate at Dixie Lance Pendleton was twice named an te performer n Mountain Crest running back Eric Bonneville wide receiver Brett Cooper and Northridge linebacker Colby Bock-wollead a group of athletes from the Top of Utah all-sta- te 3-- A 40-ya- rd all-sta- them” Wat-terso- Abegglen gave his team three k days off following dt back-to-bac- games last Wednesday Thursday and When the players re- turned to practice Monday a handful of them were ill As a re Utah State football signees sult Abegglen hasn’t been able to work his team very hard this week in preparation for Montana and Saturday’s game against Sacramento State “It will be a week since we’ve played any good basketball” Abegglen said The good news: The Wildcats have 1 1 days off after Saturday’s game before their next outing (at Idaho State on Feb 17) The bad news: They need to win both games this week if they hope to win the Big Sky regular- season title and host the postseason tournament “This is a bad time for this to happen” Abegglen said “Next week is our week off That’s when we can afford to get sick” - Jared Page High school signees High school signees COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP Blue Devils win 17th in a row The Associated Press - Shane NC 27 points led Bather’s career-hig- h No 2 Duke over No 7 Maryland 95-7- 7 on Wednesday as the Blue Devils set a record for the best start in school history The Blue Devils won their 17th straight and 34th in a row at Cameron Indoor Stadium to take lead a commanding three-gam- e in the ACC standings over the Terrapins (19--4 Battier normally Duke’s defensive stopper led six players in double figures His previous high was 18 against Maryland last DURHAM TransfersJunlor college signees 7-- 3) 1999 BYU football signees High school OR A FREE SPRINT PCS SATELLITE SYSTEM REBATE MAIL-I- WITH THE PURCHASE OF FROM THE DISH NETWORK - 70: At New York johnny Hemsley scored 29 points and No 25 Miami outs-core- d No 9 St John’s 14--3 over the final 5 12 minutes as the Hurricanes (14-- 5 3 Big Last) beat the Red Sioim (17-- 6 to sweep the season senes Other games In the Top 25: No 3 Cincinnati 82 Tulane 63 No 4 Stanford 57 California 55 No 6 Auburn 76 South Carolina 48 No 21 Indiana 71 No 1 1 W isconsin 60 Also No t8 Minnesota 75 Illinois 63 No 22 College of Charleston 75 Coastal Carolina 65 and No 24 Missou-- n 88 Texas Tech 63 $10000 PLUS RECEIVE EITHER A $3000 INSTANT STORE REBATE signees year Steve Francis and Laron Profit led the Terrapins with 18 points each f No 25 Miami 73 No 9 St John's WO PHONES Valentines Day Special - NOW OFFERING 120 MINUTES FOR $2999 PER MONTH OFFER INCLUDES FREE LONG DISTANCE AND ROAMING WHILE ON THE SPRINT PCS 100 DIGITAL NATIONWIDE NETWORK FREE VOICEMAIL CALLER ID CALL WAITING AND FIRST INCOMING MINUTE FREE IN YOUR HOME SERVICE AREA NO ANNUAL CONTRACT REQUIRED NO ACTIVATION $19900 it won RETAIL VALUE INCLUDES i: FREE ir DISH DKiflU RECEIVER Hiiiirrr irfi j rfti rh iirl irf mi —f iclj njrii nifliniif TAr k Sprint PCS UNIVERSAL REMOTE I : WWfca rlmiffl tin dEftatai uwn dum iitii FEE f' - f- ’ 1 ’i |
