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Show T - bird Cagers fake on RJ1AAC top clubs this week The "Big Two" comes to town this week and Southern Utah State's basketball team plans to meet the challenge with its "Big Three." The "Big Two" are Adams State College, picked to finish in a second place tie for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Con-ference's Mountain Division title, and Western New Mexico University, the pick to win the eight-team division championship. cham-pionship. Adams State challenges the Thunderbirds Friday at 8 p.m., and Western New Mexico moves in Saturday at 8 p.m. Countering the challenge will be SUSC's "Big Three" of Doug Rhodus, Chuck Anderson and Scott Gilmore. But Thun-derbird Thun-derbird Coach Stan Jack will count heavily on more than just the "Big Three." Recent improved performances performan-ces by center Ray Scott and guard Dave Paur have pleased Jack. Both have probably j earned semi-permanent starting start-ing roles. "Ray (Scott) did a fine rebounding re-bounding job last week, and his scoring is picking up. Paur still hasn't found his shooting eye, but he's improving, and he is doing a creditaible job on defense," Jack said. Rhodus. Anderson and Gil-more Gil-more lead T-Bird scoring with respective scoring averages of 20.3, 16.9, and 14.3 points per ;ame. Anderson is also the team's leading rebounder with an average of 11.1 takedowns per contest. iBoth Adams State and Western West-ern New Mexico have 2-0 conference records. That locks them in a three way tie for the division lead with Westminster West-minster College. Adams State will bring a strong and physical team against the 'Birds. The Indians also have exceptional experience experi-ence on their side. Walt Smith, a leaping 6-3 forward, is the team's leading scorer and rebounder. He averages 20 points and 11.3 rebounds. re-bounds. If Smith is paired against SUSC's Anderson, a classic battle could ensue. Veteran guards Craig Mor-tenscn Mor-tenscn (15.3 points per game) and Steve Posegate 112.7 points per game) also help the Indians. Center Chuck McKenzie (6-7), forward Sam Olney (6-5) and guard Pete Shock (6-0) make the Mustangs from WNM move. "Everyone tells me that McKenzie Mc-Kenzie was one of the best re-bounders re-bounders in the league last year, and that he should be even better this year," Coach Jack worries. Western N. M. got off to a slow start this season, but they have grown stronger in recent games, including a ! sweep of Western State College Col-lege and Ft. Lewis last week I to open RMAC action. Adams State whipped the same two clubs last week. New Mexico Highlands is the only common opponent of jSUSC, WN'MU and Adams l State. Adams State clubbed Highlands, 111-84, at Alamosa, Colorado; WNMU and Adams Cowboys, 84-90, on the Highlands High-lands court, and SUSC whipped whip-ped Highlands, 93-76, at Cedar City. |