Show Page 1 0 The Utah Statesman Friday January 111 980 MORE PEOPLE READ THE STATESMAN CLASSIFIEDS 750-175- 9 r Top (SnnaUntty ! HOME COOKING: jGOODhervthtm n Hommuilr' Glauser’s Restaurant VII-Ah- SHRIMP ( Hl( KIN 25 WEST CENTER LOGAN : J opr DON T BLINK— USU’s Brian Jackson demonstrates the Freno State gmw Thursday night at the Spectrum slam-dun- k photobjrSaii Ags muzzle Bulldogs’ by Dale Bublilz A sticky productive defense and scoring from the guardline enabled Utah State to hang on and defeat Fresno State in last night's PCAA opener Throughout the first half and during the game’s final ten minutes Ag defenders dominated the Bulldog offense Through those sequences Bulldog shooters were able to convert on only 37 of their shots while the Agspercent added to their leads “Our defense was the key to the evening" said USU Coach Rod man-to-ma- n 78-6- 5 Tueller "we took away a lot" Two key scoring areas taken away from the Bulldog attack included the output of forward Art Williams and the offensive of their guards Williams the team's leading scorer was held to a first half layup The Bulldog guards who normally provide a third of their scoring scored only six points "Dean Hunger did a magnificent job on Wiiliama" said Tueller "and few people are going to score well against Keith Hood" The Ag guards Hood and Rich McElrath countered with 33 points including 21- - game high-fro- m McElrath Their performance had Fresno Coach Boyd Grant shaking his head and wanting "Hey if I got 33 points from my guards I’d be jumping for joy" said Grant "They (Hood and McElrath) also provided leadership while I got none at all from mine" The mixture of team defense and backcourt scoring allowed the Ags to build a commanding lead at half While the Bulldogs were having difficulty finding the range McElrath Hood and Wickliffe were keying a 53 Edgar percent performance from the field At that juncture the Ags appeared to ease up and relax after intermission The Bulldogs made a ten minute run that all but dissolved the big lead During that stretch they converted eight more Ag turnovers and to out score USU opportunities Reserves Brian Lumsden and Paul Reed came off the bench to score 22 points and scare the Ags Teams tend to relax when a blowout is apparent" said Grant I knew they would hit a cold but didn't think it would last spell that 44-2- 7 27-1- 6 long" sk teamwate to an bit( Hood and McElrath rsMtj themselves to retake contra with three ingham came up camsBP guards and the Ag fastbreak points to keep closer than three poitd- two' 3:08 mark Cunninghams throws settled the contest Hunger added defensive effort while Jedtees Wickliffe had 11 and 10"" the Ag ly The win boosted a warn and gave them conference lead after one P® ® Saturday night the Ags PtAA and an injury plagued Pacific Tigw ding champion two start"' Tigers have lostRick Waldron and third surgeon's knife A Matt McGuire is playw effects ly but still showing left eaaw ment damage to his Offensive firepower rM" win games Foremost Ron Cornelius last S' u Tournament MVP r playing better thana yeari 201 scoring and 91 ® averages rank second ference -t- to The Tigers currently PCAA team with a suM at 6--8 Utah the only teams ponent of the two - 9-- By the ten minute mark the Ags reverted back to their first half ways Their defense keyed by a reinsertion of Leo Cuwninghm Pacific Pat! 82-7- 3 |