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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SPORTS Sunday, January 31, 1999 Utah Wins11th Straight @ Continued from B-1 oy tle for WACdivisionalplayerofthe week. Jensen's performance was made bigger due to Andre Miller's absence. Utah’s point guard and leader went to the benchwith his fourth foul with 11:08 remaining in the game andhis teamtrailing 41-39. He sat there for five minutes. The Utes held on until Miller's return. “Thank goodness for TV timeouts,” said Jensen,talking aboutplaying the whole game. “I didn't think about it too much. Especially with Andregoing out, that's when I really started thinkingI've got to doa little bit more. “It was a goodexperience forall us to playwithoutriding on Andre's shoulders. If that situation ever arises again, and hopefully it won't, we'll be readyforit.” WiththeUtestrailing 4339 and UTEPtaking advantageof a sellout crowd,Jensen dropped in a threepointer at the nine-minute mark. Again, the Miners built the lead back to four. Again, the Utes buried a clutch three-pointer. This time,it camefrom Tony Harvey. After Jensen'sfield goal put the Utes up 48-47 with 4:55left, they nevertrailed Theyscored on nineoftheir last 10 possessions, with 11 points comin throws. The Utes missed all four free throws in the first half, but were 11-for-14 in the last three minutes. Miller, who cameinto the game shooting 40 ict from the line in WAC p made 7-0f-8 foul shots inthe last two minutes. “It's abouttime,” hesaid “I improved my concentration.” The win is more impressive, consideringthat UTEP is greatly improved over the last few years. The Miners were riding a two-gamewinning streak, easily handling Uh MOG OPT Jama Alto 12 Motiolo 36 Miler 33 Killon Starp 3 Harvey 4 Callen 8 Totals 200 1842 2032 ump Wolfram Smith Faao Neon Meme Mulabo Beobedo Bo Meodoa Utah State Ends NMSU’s 8-Game OR APPT wise 2024 S140 gan 2245 2210 2136 oo13g 35 10 ws Winning Streak MPG FT oR OA PROP 33 410 25 4 1 «5:10 411 47 1 4 10 90 $1256 4 0 212 20 OL 34 2005 3 8 35 4 4119 M16 36 20027 10 12 00 1013 7 OL 00 0.010 +0 00 00 0 0 00 $ BYMICHAEL C. LEWIS ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE LOGAN — If the Utah State Aggies keep playing basketball as well as they did against New Mexico State at the Spectrum on Saturday night, they're going to be hoisting a Big West Conference championship trophy at the end ofthe season and wondering how in the world theyever lost a game. Two days after an overwhelmingbutsloppyvictory overoneofthe worst teams in the league, the Aggies bulldozed one’ of the best, 61-54. They did it behind senior center Donnie Johnson anda defenseso impenetrable it should haveits own spiked collar. “Wecouldn't do muchof anything,” said NMSU Coach Lou Henson. That's really saying some- Officials — Eddve Jackson, Mike Stowe and Mike Sain. A—1220 S$ “Tt was a good experience for all us to play without riding on Andre's shoulders.” thing Those other Aggies had won eight straight games and werethe last unbeaten team in the Big West. They Alex Jensen also were the league's best shooting team entering the weekend, yet made only 33 percent of their shots against USU in an odd re- Forward — Utah aE NewMexico and Brigham Young. But, as in previous seasons against Utah, UTEP (12-8, 4-3) was doomed by poorshooting. In the second half, the Miners shot 30 percent from the field. They had one basket in the last 10 minutes, Oneof their lowlights featured Miller swatting 6-foot9 Sharif Fajardo’s shot back at him. Sharif didn’t likeit. UTEP’s starting guards combined to get off only six Ss “We didn’t give their guards any room at all,’ versal of last season’s meet- ingin Las Cruces, N.M. Like NMSU this season, Jake SchoellkopfThe Associated Press New Mexico's Brian Smith passestheball to teammate LamontLong(3) after a mad scramble with BYU’s Michael Vranes at The Pit in Albuquerque. The Lobosrolled to the WACvictory. Young Players Signing Extensions Damages Bulls’ Rebuilding Plan Miller said. BY SAM SMITH BYU Gets Beat Up Against Lobos @ Continued from B-1 2 vietory here last Febry Welet things slip a little toward the end, but we playedwell,” said New Mex ico Coach Dave Bliss Actually, the Cougars (8. 11, 3-4) did not play all that badly. Certainly, they were better than in Thursday's 2loss at UTEP. Mekeli sley scoreda season-high 24 points, Bigelowadded15 in his second straight strong performance and BYU held its own onthe boards. Cougars could not ain Long onthe perimeAnd they simply got worn down by the 260pound Thomas inside. The BYU SUMMMARY Byu Fr OR APR IP Bigelow 3340 215 Vranes oo 3235 Vesey au 79 703m Rivers uw 4158 Cooper 0 0000 ower oo 0 000 real 0 1000 Chappell oo 0000 Pagman 41524 Christensen 18 22 2128 ches 0 4030 Jensen 0 2014 tals e482 3 8 2 Be New Mexico M FG OFT oR APP TP. Log 38-11 STB Hey 8 59 00 3 1 113 Thomas 28 69 69 8 2 318 m 4600 4248 1 110 X 31 10 1 floor and 3. 6-0f-9 shots, and also abbed a team-high eight rebounds They always shoot the ball well here.” said Cleve land. “They wereopenfor a few of them, but most were contested. I'm not that di appointed We didn't have an answer for a while but we came out reall charged up for the second half Indeed, the Cougars made a game of it, Trailing 42-33 intermission, they got as close a 47-41 when Michael Vranes hit a jumper from the left wing. Jepsen's dunk it 51-43 with 17.42 left. And oh, what a jam it was. Anticipating Bigelow's missed layup perfectly, Jep went raight up with the follow The rim poppedoff and the glass hi broke e into a nd tiny pieces, knick ing Jepsen n the forehead { to make some gaining agreement, which could changethefutureof free agency You'regoingto see a lot of teams hold ontotheir free agents,” Chi attorney Herb Rudoypredicted a week in whichhesignedpla contracts worth more than $. lion, capped by Zyndrunas Ilgauskas six-year, $71 million deal with the elandCavaliers. ‘The key to the agreement was that ams could keeptheir goodplayers goingto be moredifficult to sign noise, said Je one way or theother, sen, who played just eight minutes. 1 was in the right place at the right time. The game was ¢ minutes as UNM gam cials sweptup the gl rolled out a replace But sometime uring the standstill, the ns percent annu al raises, compared with 10 percent for players who change teams, So Antonio MeDyess, who did switch teams, signs with Denver for $67.5 million whenthe Phoenix Suns offer was for morethan $86 million. If youare leaving, it’s becauseyou may be bitter withyour teamorreally want to go omewhere else, Rudoy said Valpa ne's last ht points Saturday to se ire 62-52 victory over yutbern Utah in men's bas ketal at the Centrum. The T-Birds trailed 54-52 au maining, but again. d the people wethought we had to stop, but it's hardt anyone when you a score 52 points,” said SUU Coach Bill Evans Kenyatta Cl 14 points and 11 rebounds for SUU (8-14, 3-7 Mid-Con: Milo Stovall 5 2 boards 5, 7-1), the de- fending league champion maximum deal he could get. It’s also security,” Rudoy said. “Whytake a chance oninjury Ilgauskas and Abdur-Rahim weren't the only youngstars to re- sign. The Lal Kobe Bryant, Boston’s Antoine Walker andPhilly's Allen Iverson could have become free agents after this on but theyall re-signed with their tea romthe 1996 drat the players picked Nos, 1 3. and 15 have re- signed. That te is Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Kerry Kittles and Vitaly Potopekno as the top unsigned players fromthat draft Ofthetopsevenplayers in thepres draft, only Joe Smith hasn't a long-termdeal. e Bulls andtheir $20 million in cap space won't be without options, but thefield will be severely reduced. __SUU SUMMARY_ It was wonderful weekin the NBA if you enjoy watching hypocrisy on display. And we can thank Latrell Sprewell and Dennis Rodman Fi Sprewell the strangler going’ toNew York. not only toa warm welcome but a chance to ‘h icks President Dave Checketts ex. tract his foot fromhis mouth Ch ng Mormon oy ; manto takeover the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics, has long been part of the NBA’s moral majority holding his nose at the Bulls’ use of Rodman and swearing the Knicks ene never stoop so low. Dav D make statements I've made about not wanting certainplayers on my team. I guessit’s pretty judgmen: tal.” Checketts said. “It's almost self. righteous and I regret having said those things. I had to adjust mythinking about this." So we move to South Beachand the equally self-righteousPatRiley. Last yearhe rippedthe Bulls for desecrating the league with Rodmananddis- missed him as “ridiculous . , the most ridiculous thing to come into the league ever.” But then Riley watched the Pacers improve with Sam Perkins and the Knicks improve with Sprewell, whom he sought. So Riley madea pitchfor odman even as Rodman was saying he wouldn't cometo campwith anyoneuntil after his Super Bowlparty. “Dennis is winner,” Riley said “We all know what Dennis is. Dennis is a marketing maven, But I don't think he hasanyreal deep-seated dis like for anything [other than Alonzo Mourning]. And I'msure somewhere thelocal Ags began last year 7-0 in league play and took an eight-game winning streak into the Pan-American Center against a team at was 3-4, only to wind up losing. Being on the goodside of this season’s decision, however, allowed USU to improveto 11-8 overall and 4-4 in the Big West. NMSU fell to 15-6 and 7-1. The victory wasalso Utah State’s second against an unbeaten league opponent. The Ags handed Boise State its first league but they have to do it in 90 days. Many ors were turned into bench pata toes during the 6Y-month lockout and are now rushing to work off the rust andflab, which canlead to diss: ter Shawn Kemp, for example, showed upat Cleveland Cavaliers campre portedly as much as 45 pounds over his old playing weight of 256 from his days inSeattle, With many others also shape, trainers should be ready screams of “Get the ic Wealways worry about injuric andit will bean even bigger issue thi year,” Lakers Coach Del Harris We can't keep themin a vacuus jar somewhere, because we play basketball Well, some players do, anyway Others are already watebing from the sideline, recovering from injuries in the first couple of weeks since the lockout ended. tial list Miami's Voshon hin); the Nets’ Kerry 8 (knee and Rony Seikaly(anMinnesota's Joe Smith (ankle) Anthony Peeler (knee); Char. s Glen Rice (elbow); a ndSeattle's Billy Owens (knee) nd Detlef Schrempf(thigh) Indiana Pacers trainer David Crai predicts there will be many more 0 add We're usedto four weeks of get tinginto basketball shape,” hesaid Now were nailing that down w k ms originally were scheduledto report on Oct, 6, begin their slate of about eight exhibition games mid month, and openth November. This time, they'regetting 15 days of mpand twoexhibitions beic grind of the eason on Friday. Beforethelockout ended, it was upto the players to stay pe on their own by hitting the ts andplaying in pickup games. You just pray to God that they did something to get into condition,” Pac: ers CoachLarry Bird said. “You don’t have time to get theminto a decent condition toplay basketball when you really haven't done that much. It usually takes on games to get into sor type of condition with a full training camp And, of course, there were no full training camps. Players haven't put upa shotthat counts in eight months oF yo, unless they count that big pick finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and played muchbiggerthan Gosa, who scored 1 couldn't make anybody notice Everybodyelse contributed for USU, too: @ Pointguard RashadEl liott played superbly on both ends, handing outeight assists and committing only one turnover,while holding Keys to 3-of-16 shooting and seven points. @ Randall came off the wonthree of four games. benchto score eightpoints, after going for a career-high 14 and eightassists against “It's a confidence-booster, said guard Rick Ranoe “But we're not done points — including a layup loss last weekend, and have +The Aggies used a rugged man-to-man defense as well as a triangle-and-two on NMSU’s Charles Gosa and Billy Keys that kept them in the game, even as they suffered long scoring droughts in the first half. Then, after halftime, Johnsontook over. Four times in the second half, the 6-foot-6 senior threw down ferocious dunks. Three came on the same quick low-post play. while one camelike analley op off 3 shot in frat ofthe basket. Johnson North Texas on Thursday. @ Tony Brown peared after a steal and length-ofthe-court drive that gave USU a 48-42 lead with nine minutes left. Brown also made three free throws in the final 2:13. Then, after the game, Coach Stew Morrill took de- light inone other byproduct ofthevietory, “I haven't heard a lot of questions about Saturday night,” he said The Ags had lost six traight on Saturday nights. Suddenly, however, it's their favorite night of the along the way we could havea little fun, too.” Interesting new tune now that the Heat seems to beslipping farther downthe competitiveladder. Later in the week, Riley doubted Rodman would come to Miami be- cause — get this — he was leaning toward Orlando, owned by the NBA equivalentof the Christian Coalition, the ultra-right DeVos family, which helped send Shaquille O'Nealpacking becausehewasn’t projecting theright image. Now they're courting Rodman? As for Rodman, this is what many suspect: He's not coming toplay for a prorated $1 million. He couldn't think straight when himonly the Spurs were paying 6 million. He wants to leave the NBA onone big publiity stunt — such asplaying naked or in a wedding dress and he didn t have a chancetoleave on his terms last June when the Bulls won again. Proenx 16, Dallas 10 Sacramento #9, Golden State 85 San Antonio 78, Houston 7) ake 8, Maooet 1 20 athe 80, Vanco IEA taker SULACen 77 Suoday’s Games sts—Vanronn * MINNESOTA(111) Garnett 6188-10 20, Miebell 1046 15, Gr Denver Dalia Pow pm Saturday CHARLOTTE 9) Person $4800 8, Mason 71 ‘lean 310 34 9, Wealey 47 11 11, 14.22 4 Reid 01 3463, Watson 01 0.00, Davis 1 0.00 BMiler 48511, Brown 46008, Wiliams 26 01 4 Armstrong 07 000, Recasner 15 2 PMlier 02 000 Tota 2477 1928 7% ATLANTA (95) Crawford 5-6 66 12. Henderson 5:10 00 10, Whatever Rodman pulls will be worth more in publicity than his annu, al salary, so it would be wonderful to see Orlandosign him. $8 \aret 1. Manon61 faty—Minnesota 3 (Marbury ©, Mlwauee 24 Alles 7 T foil -Mamneseta 38 Mibenub 3 A18nIT LA. LAKERS (9) Horry 47 01 #, Pox 2500 4, Campa 48 Long Layoff Will Take a Toll on NBA Players Cougars lost their shooting touch, and whatever chance THE ASSOCIATED PRESS they had vanishe BYU madejust oneof its the distinctive squeak of first nine shots after the new ly, ers onpolished hardwood, break. Meanwhile, John the rhythmic thumping of basketballs Robinsondrilledtwo threes. dribbled downcourt and sy Kevin Henry hit another and sound of “'thwap" whenit'sthenothing Thomas dunkedfor an11-0 run that put the Lobos up butButnetwhat's that? Huffing and puff 62-43 with 12:35left moans and groans and occasional Both teams had to deal with the delay,” said Bige: shriek The long layoff, shortened low. “It just so happened camps andgrueling, crammed § that our shots wouldn't fall will most likely taketheir toll on NBA We weren't getting the right players this season. Sprains, pulled shots muscles and torn ligaments are ex pected to be far more commonthan during the usual 82-gan ules Sure, teams will play just 50 games, Valpo’s Late Charge Stops SUU EDAR CITY raiso scored th Cleveland and General Manager Wayne Embry, so he committed to the DO AS | SAY e-sign with their of-3 beyond the are. Thomas hit It's turning out to be one of the rebuild, such ull ‘The agreement put salaries, so arichtea Knicks or Bulls can't simply outbid a small-market team for a player such as Shareef Abdur-Rahim, signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies last week his first start of the the and 1996 signed, most with their arent ane maineffects of the newcollective bar Tgauskas, considered one of the NBA's top youngcentersanda likely eee of the Bulls, decided he liked ers be vause the nome team can eason at point guard, was 6: of-11 from CHICAGO TRIBUNE CHICAGO — TheBulls aregoing to havea lot of bad days this season. But last week was a horrible week, which could lead to some badyears ahead ‘The heart of Chicago's rebuilding plan had a stakedriven through it as the top youngplayers fromthe 1995 the: Home teams, Lobos shot 50 percent and drilled eight treys, Long making usu mr OR APP TP Channing 20 27 00 4:02 6 Bot MT SG 1 kg Gn 3 MO 2 OT Kes 316 00-5 1 4 7 Bester «8 37 00 «1 3:37 Dis 0 0 00 0000 Noe 1 00 09 0000 Wilams 1 00 00 0009 Nop 4 02 00 1010 Novel 90 25 22 213 6 Hines 2 04 22 302 2 Totals 200 EL IOI AL 8 1B 54 UwhSite M FG FT RA Role «29 «38 247 2 Das «S36 22 5 0 Johnson 33 612 OL 4 1 Blot 02 02 0 8 ck «10 «25:12 Josen 7 18 00 10 Randal «18 38 22 1 0 Bron «2 38 56 0 1 Newo oo 12 00 2112 Tolals 200 454 1219 33 1314 GL Tale Sore New Meso Stale 25ah State 28 8 Field Goals $28 Utah State 44.4 PreeThrows: New Mexico State 99;Ui Sate 2 polat Shooting — New Mexico State 4 se(Chag4 Keys 14, Bstor 1-5, Nooplla 94,owal Us State 1.8 (Brown 1-4, 01), wtenNexo Site (Co Kes van Davis, Eliot, Brown) — New Mexico State 12 (Keys 3, Besar Novel 2, Cham, Brod, Gass Noo ih leUns Si? lle3, ai Sots— New Meio Se? (Got2 Uh ile 2 Geo 2 fechleal Fouls — None. (heen Sp Mike SobersnA tony Croie, A—8738. up gameat the Y duringthe lockout “You can't get in shape until a coach is yelling at you,"" Minnesota Timberwolves Co nders said “They might think they're in pe. We put out extra buckets in case someguys threw up. Despitethe concerns, somefeel that theplayers whowill get hurt this 1 probably would have gotten in jured during regular season, too. Af ter all, the lockout shouldn't have changedtheattitudeof players com mittedto their conditioning or oth. ers who arelazy ‘Theones that didn't stay in shape probably will get overuse-type infu — stress fractures, muscle sprains and strains Daly the Los Angeles Clippers’ team doc Rooks25004, Ptterion 346006. oust 1 $46 oven 11003 Lae 2004 Toad ora (0.00, Lapen 3-7 2:29, Niggin 1. 0 0.0 00-0, Chieut 12 12 4, Sawer 0: Whoa 34 9:8 Nae 08000 Tota3 23 0 Harris 00 lates 144914 tray 8 341 Ne 500 4 ett tt eae Cippers nM SealLA Labo 412 are 3 Low 1 Por, RpPo 2ACpe412 a LA Clippers LA Lakers 31, LA Clip pent ele that's the wide majority of the play No. 12-Ranked Snow Rolls Past CNCC For 22nd Win have ended. ketball team improvedto 2: 2-1 with Saturday's 97-57 defeat of Colorado Northwestern tor, he conscientious ones, and ers, stay in shapeall year long. Years ago, they would wait until training camptoget in shape, and those days I don’t really anticipatethat biga al To try to avoid a “big deal,” most coaches will give their regulars ample rest early, shuttling reserves in and out. Teams will carry 14 players, rath. er thantheusual 12, for thefirst two weeksof the season Wo'regoing to see a number of guys playing probably less minutes than in the past because of thepre ventionof injuries, and also because of the conditioning concerns we have,” said Tim Floyd, new coach of the Chi EPHRAIM — Snow College's No. 12-ranked men's bas Kris Jex scored 18 points and Mitch Montgomery added 17 for the Badgers, wholed 49-24 at halftime. Melissa Braegger scored 23 points and was backed b: Angie Hawkins (12), Nicole Paul (11)i Amber Russell (10) as the now women beat CNCC Tim Erickson scored 20 points a jemi Boyette opedRicks 67 40in men's play, The Ricks women defeated the Bruine 74 67, despite 18 points by SLCC's Abby Hjorth and 16 by Ashley Miller. added16 as Salt Lake Community College Utah Valley State Collegerallied from 13 points down to beat North Idaho 61-78 in me's guy. Posen Brotherson scored 25 points for UVSC Lydi and Niki Se dowski each scored 17 points as the sec C women blasted North Idaho 04-67 |