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Show ·- I THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• WEDNESDAY., JANUARY 7, 1998 'BIRD SPORTS Jl~I Valpo too much fot SU By CHAD LAMB JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR They almost won-but then again they almost beat Buffalo and Oral Roberts too. Having played against three of the top four teams in the league already-all of those games being at home-a Mid-Con championship is probably out of the question for the SU men's basketball team as they lost to the Valparasio Crusaders 7970 heading into the second week of conference play. "They deserve a lot of credit to come in here and beat us," said Head Coach Bill Evans.Valparasio came into last night's contest as the reigning Mid-Con champions and showed SU fans why they were chosen as the preseason pick to take the championship again this year. AIi-conference guard Bryce Drew scored 23 points in helping the Crusaders overcome a four-point deficit in the closing minutes of the game. "He had to work to get 14 shots-he's a good player and good players do good things," Evans continued. Valpo's nine-point win was a lot closer than the score appears, as the 'Birds were up by one with four minutes remaining. That's when the Crusaders stamina kicked in and SU's shooting went down the drain. After Jeff Monaco missed a jumper with 3:40 remaining, Valpo scored on a controversial call that gave them two points off of a goal tending call that could have gone either way. We had opportunities, Evans said. "We took a couple of shots down the stretch we shouldn't have taken." Free throws were a vital part to Valpo's 11 win, as they went to the line 36 times making 27. Calls were going the 'Birds way as well, but several missed free throws threw out any chance of SU keeping it close. On defense, the ' Birds had a tough time stopping Valpo's Zoran Viskovic, who is a native of Croatia. He put in 20 points and had no trouble moving inside the key to score. Viskovic also picked up six rebounds, with help from his teammate Bill Jenkins who pulled down eight boards. For the 'Birds, Kenyatta Clyde finished with 17 points after scoring just four in the first half. SU had two more scorers who finished the night in double figures. Tarvish Felton scored 16 and Tyrone Ellis finished with 13-including three buckets from behind the arc. During the first half, it was anybody's game, as several lead changes occurred with the highest lead being no more than four. Ellis didn't let that last very long however, as he drained a three in the final seconds of the first half to pull the 'Birds within one at halftime 32-33. Valpo opened up the second half taking a 38-34 lead, but turnovers and good shooting helped the 'Birds jump out to a 45-42 lead with 15 minutes left. Both teams fought for the lead the remainder of the game, with Valpo prevailing. The loss is the third of the season for the ' Birds in Mid-Con play as they head into tomorrow's contest against Youngstown State who is coming off a 104-81 loss to Oral Roberts. Youngstown has an overall record of 10-4 and is 3-1 in conference play. The game begins at 7:35 p.m. in the Centrum, and is part of a doubleheader with the women's squad. ~ z ~ Q. i r.., 't___, ~ Q. ., :. -r Leland Osborne {42}flies past Valparasio's Bill fenkins {44) to score two of his five points. The 'Birds lost their third conference game of the season-all of which have been at home. Crusader women win in stretch part of the second half, but were able to hold a four-point lead to end the game came away with the 86-82 victory, giving them a perfect 5-0 conference record this season . JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER "We shot the ball well, but we got a little too complacent," said Head Coach Joe Hillock. The Lady 'Birds felling four points shy to pick up their "Against a good league second loss in Mid-Con play team like Valporaiso, you in an 86-82 loss against the can't dig yourself a hole and Valparaiso University expect a win. We came out Crusaders last night. in the second half and just Throughout the first 10 didn't respond until it was minutes of the game, SU held too late." a momentum and a 19-point Starting center Myndee lead that seemed to extinguish Larsen led the 'Birds in the pre-game fervor scoring with 23 points for exemplified by the Crusaders. the night and added to her The 'Birds' momentum career record by blocking eventually depleted however, six shots. "We always start lending Val po a 43-38 lead by well and end well, its the the end of the first half. middle we need to work Coming back in the second on," Larsen said. "When we half, SU could not seem to get get that down, we'll do their feet back under them as ;;!good." Although somewhat they were unable to pull ?i discouraged by the within more than 10 points 5 conference loss, the Lady with just eight minutes 8. 1Birds will be looking to remaining. ~ steal a big win tomorrow as That is when the ladies ~ they face-off with the finally ca me alive, producing r.., Youngstown State eight unanswered points and ...., ~ Penguins. The Penguins are decreasing the Crusaders' lead Q. curren tly3-0 in league to just one. Flustered by the late scoring Melissa Hines {32) drives against Valparasio's Sarrah play.Tomorrow's game begins at 5: 15 p.m. in the drive, Valparaiso lost its Stricklett (43) in last night's 86-82 loss top the composure it held in the first Crusaders. Hines scored just two points. Centrum. By BEN GUNDERSON q\ ..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- Indoor track headed to Idaho The men's and women's indoor track squads begin the 1998 season tomorrow participating in the Snake River Open at Idaho State University. This is the first season the track teams will have a shot at a championship, as a MidContinent Indoor Track Championship is set for the end of the season. In years past, the indoor season was a preparatory period for the outdoor season in the spring. However, with the entrance into the conference both teams now have something to shoot for. A championship is definitely the main goal for the indoor team, as they try to accomplish the same feat the cross country team accomplished this past fall. Most of the indoor team members are carry-overs from cross country, and will participate in the distance events for the Thunderbirds. Freshman Wendy Allen is expected to be one of the top runners for the ladies, along with Junior Esther Woolston who was one of the top runners for cross country. Mid-Con cross country champion Jody Benson will be a vital part of the men's distance teams, and he will have extra help from Senior Ted Hansen and Junior Chris Merkley who are both strong distance runners. |