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Show SUSC Thunderbirds take to road; face Adams State, Fort Lewis have never won there," Jack said. The Indians have a 0-2 conference con-ference record, but both losses came on the road, one to Western New Mexico and one to New ' Mexico Highlands. Adams State is undefeated this season at home. Wins have come over Santa Fe, Northern Colorado (2(, Southern Colorado and Northwestern Nor-thwestern Oklahoma State. The probable starting lineup for the Alamosa tribe includes Wade Mortenseri, a 5-9 floor general guard; Mike Butts, 6-3 guard; John Van Tassel, 6-5 forward; Larry Livesey, 6-6 forward, and Billy Jenkins, 6-7 center. Loren Lutz, ASC head coach, depends heavily on the scoring and rebounding of Jenkins. Livesey has also had flashes of brilliance for the Indians. Last year, SUSC and Adams State split two games: the Thunderbirds won handily at home, 104-67, but fell by two, 87-85, 87-85, at Alamosa. The Thunderbirds whipped Fort Lewis twice last season. SU won 82-70 at Cedar City and 93-75 at Durango. Most of the Raider scoring comes from its front line of Robert Zeilstra, a 6-7 center, and forwards Chuck Pierce (6-5) and Ed Phippen (6-6). Zeilstra averages 16.5, Phippen 11.2, and Pierce 10.3. Fort Lewis favors a ' more patterned game than does SUSC. The Raiders average only 65.3 points per game. Fort Lewis opponents are scoring 69.3, but that opposition includes such teams as Bradley University and Murray State University. Fort Lewis' record is 2-5. SUSC and the Raiders have faced one common opponent, Grand Canyon College. Grand Canyon nipped Fort Lewis, 47-43, in a slowdown battle. Southern Utah State fell 89-88. Both Fort Lewis and the T-Birds played Grand Canyon on their home floors. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings (through January 3): W L Mesa 2 O SUSC l o Westminster l o Western N.M. 3 l Adams State l i Colorado Mines 0 O N.M.Highlands 1 2 Fort Lewis 0 1 Regis 0 2 Western State 0 2 A pair of very respectable opponents will give Southern Utah State its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road test of the year Friday and Saturday. "These games may well figure very heavily in the eventual determination of the conference champion," Stan Jack, SUSC coach, said. Jack and his crew are taking both games very' seriously. Although Adams State, Friday's foe, has been tabbed a conference favorite and Fort Lewis, the Saturday opponent, didn't figure as high in the preseason coaches' poll, Jack doesn't figure one will be significantly any weaker or stronger than the other. "Both teams are very physical, and both are strong clubs. Fort Lewis only lost by one point at Western New Mexico, and Adams State is undefeated at home and has a 6-2 record," Jack worries. Southern Utah will counter with a squad that has outscored opponents by an average of 18.8 points per game and is shooting 50.9 percent from the field. "We feel like we are playing good ball right now and that it will take a good team to beat us, but at the same time, we are concerned about the number of miles we have to travel and the method of travel (station wagons) ; that takes a lot out of a team." Four T-Birds are averaging double figure scoring. Robert Lee is collecting 19.5 points per game; Kerry Rupp adds 15.8; Steve Hodson has been good for 15.6, and Bernie Leavitt is scoring 12.1. Eight squad members are shooting over 50 percent from the field. As a team the T-Birds are averaging 95.3 points. Opponents are scoring 76.5. Southern Utah averages 48.1 rebounds. Op-, ponents are averaging 46.8 takedowns. "Adams State is the toughest place in the world to play; we |
