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Show Sporfstaculcir Thursday December 20, 979 Page 5 1 Richard Smith, David Johnson and Bruce Collins are three big reasons the Wildcats are big favorites to win the Big Sky this seasoa They are all WESER STATE'S returning Big Sky Conference selections, 'Cats maize it eight straight with win over Seattle The Weber State Wildcats put their seven game winning streak on the line Tuesday night, visiting the Seattle Chieftains (Dec. 18) in Seattle Center Arena. Upoff is 8:00 p.m. (PST). The Cats won two at home and a big one on the road ) and College last week, defeating Rhode Island at home and outlasting a scrappy, of St Francis (96-6but depleted New Mexico team, 0 in Albuquerque. The Wildcats are now 1 on the season. The Cats return home this coming Saturday (Dec. 22) boating Circle beginning at the University of Illinois-Chicag- o 7:30 p.m. (MST) in the Dee Events Center. Weber will then have a week off to prepare for the Las Vegas Weber's first round opHoliday Classic (Dec. NCAA champion one the is in that defending ponent Michigan State. Last season, the Chieftains came into Ogden with a 4rival Washington, 2 mark, having lost to cross-tow- n the' match to up. The Wildcats drilled Ogden prior the Chieftains, 9980. This year its the same story, except Weber is coming into Seattle with a 1 mark, but Seattle's last defeat was Saturday night against Washington, 8987, the bringing its overall 197980 season record to mly victory coming in the Fiesta Classic in Tempe, nmsolaiion win over Southern Illinois. AX,, on 86-7In 12 previous meetings. Weber has taken seven wins, losing five. Before last year's meeting, the two chibs hadn't seen each other since . the 1970-7- season when they split a pair of games. In 1989-70- , the Wildcats lost a regular season pme at home against the Chieftains, but gained some revenge by defeating them in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Leading the way for Seattle is 78 center Jawann Oldham who averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds for the (82-80- 80-7- 7-- 28-29- ). -I 91-8- 7-- 4, 4 1 Chiefs last season. Oldham played for the United States World Games team this past summer in Mexico. Last year against Weber, Oldham had 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots before fouling out. The only other player who played against WSC last year listed on the 197980 roster is guard Carl Ervin (6-1-) who scored three points in last year's game, so the Chieftains will be unknown to the Cats because of the influx of junior college transfers and freshman. Head Coach Jack Schalow is fan his second season as head coach after guiding Seattle to its first winning McCarty (68) also a guard have both been around 7.5 points a game. CAT TKACKS-Br- uce Collins took over the team scoring lead with a 27 point effort against St. Francis Saturday night. Collins is averaging 17.3 a pme, with teammate David Johnson close behind a 17.0 1 season last year season. since the Circle makes it The University of first appearance in the Dee Center on Saturday night The night has been designated as "HOTEL BAIJIKKDASir night with the cast from lietH Balderdash presenting the halftime show. All kids 12 years and yoanger can purchase a reserve seat far only 81. There will also be a featured prebmiaary pme between the KRSP and a team made up of the media who cover Weber State basketball. That pme Is scheduled to underway (16-1- 1973-7- 4 1) Illinois-Chicag- o KK18FY-KRITTEH- at S pt S:1S p.m. The Circle (that is their official nickname as of last week, it was the Chikas) has gotten off to a rocky start Going into a Wednesday night encounter with Eastern Illinois on tbe road, UICC is 08, with its first 10 games of the year on the road. Their latest loss was a 6 contest to Nebraska Omaha Saturday. The head coach at UICC is Tom Meyer, now in Ms third year with a record of Meyer is the son of DePaul University coach Ray Meyer. The leading refaounder and scorer thus far has been 88 forward Courtney James with 11 rebounds and 12 points a contest Jose Lara (68') a guard, and Van 91-7- WSC Speaking of Collins, Bruce is scheduled to play and start in his 100th straight pme for the Wildcats. Collins has never missed a game and has been a starter in every pme his has played wMIe at Weber. Collins e continues to surge forward as the school's leading scorer with 1626 career points. all-tim- WSC With seven wins in a row, the Wildcats are Just half way towards the school record of 14 set during the IMS-6- 9 season when the Cats won 13 straight, then lost to SEATTLE, then ran off 14 in a row before losing to Santa Clara in the NCAA TournamenL The Wildcats were 278 that season, a school record that still stands for number of wins and season winning percentage. -- 27-3- WSC With his two points apirat St. Francis. MARK MATTOS become the 21st player to score 600 career points. Mattoa has 600 on the nose and is 30 behind number 20, John Silbemagel. , |