The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 17

THE LINCOLN STAR sports Thursday, Page 17 Huskers weather frantic finish for eighth straight victory By Mark Gordon Staff Sports Writer It took a spectacular ending to keep Nebraska's basketball team undefeated. The 73-72 victory Wednesday night over unheralded Western Illinois gave 7,162 onlookers all the thrills of the seventh game of the National Basketball Association finals. But the final score almost was not so pleasing to the Huskers. could I have fouled him Tony Moore, who missed a layin attempt with six seconds left). I had to knock the ref down to get to explained Terry Novak of the final seconds.

had the ball, just a question for the referee to judge if I had him with my Novak said of the crucial play. think he added. With Nebraska leading, 73-72, and holding the ball, the Moore intercepted an errant pass at midcourt and drove towards what appeared to be the winning points for Wl. Novak, depending on your point of view, either blocked the shot or fouled Moore. The rebound came off and freshman guard Dwayne Banks fired a point-blank shot that somehow missed as the clock expired.

Novak, meanwhile, said his first thought was to prevent the layin was on the opposite side I had to get around the ref I was either going to block the shot or foul him I didn't want him to have the layup just glad the clock ran out" As expected first-year WI coach Jack Margenlhaler was disappointed, yet proud of his team effort. I was extremely pleased We deserved to win, but didn't I told my team a lot of things in life you deserve, but he said a lot of things more important than if you win or lose a basketball game "As far as I'm concerned we won the he added. make those young men better people. If you believe me, just check back in 30 Margenthaler said there was no question Novak fouled on attempt. was a nice block.

Maybe Osborne (NL football coach Tom) could use he chuckled. disappointed and upset. But this basketball team can compete with a hell of a lot of schools. We have the toughest Division II schedule in the The Macomb school was paced by sophomore David Morgan with 22 points and 14 from Moore. Overall, WI hit 31 of 55 field goals for 56 4 percent.

The 72 points was the most allowed in eight consecutive Husker wins. let Moore and Morgan get hot and, defensively, we ready to play and you can see what kind of club we noted NU coach Joe Cipriano. In an understatement, Cipriano said. were very, very fortunate to win. We made some careless mistakes at the end.

We were outrebounded, outfieldgoaled. 1 even see the layup at the end was a game, psychologically, we ready to he continued. have any pressure on the ball. 'You could tell that they had 34 at halftime. we play like this the rest of the season, we have a winning Cipriano said.

got to get it back together against Montana State (a Friday night visitor at the Sports Center). Cipriano said the Huskers failed to combine exceptional offensive and defensive play for five or six minutes many phases of the game we played he said Trailing 3 40-34 at half time, WI came out shooting with vengeance. The visitors hit almost 60 percent the second half. The Huskers led 66-58 with six minutes remaining About three and a half minutes later, the Illinois school took a 70-69 lead with left. That was the second and last lead (WI led early at 4-2) for Western Illinois.

Carl McPipe, who took NU scoring honors with 20 points and rebounding laurels with seven, hit two free throws for a 71-70 NU margin. Then Novak connected on two pressure free throws for a 73-70 advantage. Banks hit a five-footer for the final points, before the exciting finish. The triumph but Nebraska at 8-0 while WI dropped to 4-5. It snapped a three- game Leatherneck winning streak.

Surprisingly, Nebraska outshot the easterners from the floor. NU connected on 28 of 47 attempts for a fine 59 6 percentage. The Huskers could tie a 62-year-old mark by winning against Montana State The 1915 Huskers won their first nine games before falling to Nebraska Wesleyan (23-19). A win over Monatana State would put NU at 9-0 entering the annual Big Eight Pre-Season Tournament Tuesday against Oklahoma State in Kansas City, Mo. WMtern lllmots Ig tqa pf tp 3-7 0 0 0 4 6 David 8 13 6-6 5 4 22 Randy 12 0-1 11 2 Dwayne Banna 4 6 0-0 4 2 8 BradBamtpr 1-1 0-0 0 5 2 TonyMooi-e 6 8 2 2 5 1 14 WtH.anna 4 11 2-4 2 3 10 eiapn 1-2 0-0 4 2 2 Randy Jonea 3 5 0-0 3 1 6 Team rpftniinda 3 Totail 31-55 10-11 27 23 72 3 14 564 Tpi-fy Hedbei-rj Cani MfPtor M.tip NadP'ny Brian Sanv a Bob Moore McVifrr Andre Gerard vr'r Totali Dnadbail ren, Nebraiha (73) tg-tqa ft-lta p( tp 2 3 2 2 5 4 6 2 8 0-0 3 2 4 8 12 4 8 7 3 20 4 6 2 3 0 0 10 8 11 3 5 3 2 19 35 0001 6 11 00 20 2 0-0 6 6 1 2 6 01 0-0 110 21-47 17-24 21 15 73 2 18 19 ent.iije-lield 596 708 ti noia 34-38 -72 34 38 73 I laia George 7 By HufPberio Ramire: Nebraska's Brian Banks goes over the top of Western Illinois' Davitj Morgan (53).

Pantyhose to keep Raiders warnner Giants and Jets look to future Oakland (UPI) The Oakland Raiders, thinking about the weather on the East Coast, have purchased 60 pair of coffee-colored super queen size pantyhose. This size IS meant for women who have 48 to 60-inch hips and who weigh between 200 and 260 pounds. The Raiders say they are ready for the Colts in the American Football Confernce playoff game Saturday regard- of the weather at Baltimore The pantyhose are just an extra thing to have along in case the area gets frigid. Some of the Raiders want pantyhose, but others say they do anything that might give them an edge The Detroit Lions wore pantyhose when I was with them." said punt specialist Errol Mann was all kinds of joking at first, but it workt'd I wore them too and would again-I looking for result-s. Blue sale hearing set New York (AP) The hearing to investigate the Oakland sale of pitching star Vida Blue to the Cincinnati Reds will be held Jan 5, Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's office announced Oakland owner Charles 0.

Finley sold Blue to the Reds for 75 million and minor league first baseman Dave Revering at the winter meetings in Hawaii two weeks ago. But Kuhn refused to approve the deal, pending a hearing Since the attempted deal, Finley has sold the to oilman Marvin Davis who plans to the club to Denver That transaction requires Amerit an League approval In June of 1976, Kuhn blocked attempted sales of Blue to the New York Yankees (or $15 million and Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi to Boston for $1 million apiece. Pantyhose keep the muscles warm and as restrictive as thermal Mann said, just wear your normal football uniform and pantyhose. It really helps at positions where speed and quickness are important I II wear them on Saturday, but I on Sunday" The Raiders are copying the Lions. Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins in choosing this garment as part of the cold- weather uniform But some fellows on the California team aren ready for it yet.

no, 1 won't wear them. said tackle Henry Lawrence. do I look Floyd Rice has similar reluctance not wearing them make me feel like Porky he said. Defensive end Pat Toomay, who is 6-6, 250 pounds, said he be bothered psychologically. Dave Anderson (c) New York Timet New York In retrospect, the most unusual elements of the 12-9 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday were not the snow and sleet, but the significance and the tension.

a Giants rooter was heard to say. like a plavoff Almost. The significance and the tension mostly concerned the Bears, because thev had to win to qualify for the National Football League playoffs But at least the Giants were involved indirectly. And for York pro football buffs, even that is a new sensation Now the playoffs will begin this weekend But not here never here any more Since the 1970 merger realignment, neither the Giants nor the Jet.s have qualified In that time, no other sport has failed its New York clientele as pro football has the Yankees won the recent World Series and lost it a year ago, the Mets were in the 1973 World Series, the Knicks won the National Basketball Association playoffs twice, the won the American Basketball Association title twice, the osmos won the North American Soccer League title twice, the Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup final once and the Islanders to the semifinals twice. Muhammad Ali twice fought here for the heavyweight championship, the Belmont Slakes and the United States Open tennis championships were here annually, and the 1974 I' S.

Open golf tournament was staged at Winged Foot But the Giants and the Jets have not been in the pjayoffs lately the Giants not since 1963 when they lost the NFL title game to the Bears in Chicago, the Jets not since 1969 when they lost a semifinal American Football League playoff to the Kansas Citv Chiefs at Shea Stadium after having won Super Bowl III As for the and future, at least now each team shows a sense of stability for a change Perhaps each team's most stable element is its coach Since replacing Bill Arnsparger midway through the 1976 season. John McVay has produced an 8-13 won-lost record 1 5-9 this year) and has had the Giants competitive until the final minutes of several defeats. Walt despite a 3-11 record as a rookie head coach, has created a new no-nonsense atmosphere on the Jets, a team without a direction under Lou Holtz and charley Winner in previous seasons Each team also appears content with its quarterh.jck Joe Pisarcik of the Giants has emerged more on strength, courage and enthusiasm than on passing skill. He's a competitor Those attributes iometimes can be enough if surrounded with teammat'-s as Billy Kilmer of the Washington Redskins ho shown Richard Todd of the J- ts had the look one of the NFL's young quarterbacks until a knee injury kept him out of games and restricted his talent in the last few. Richard so sincere, so honest, so Walt If he had stayed healthy, who But Jets' pr was playing well against good teams such as the Oakland Raiders and the Pitt.iburgh Steelers and losing.

and playing poorly against bad teams as the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles, the losing That youth for Walt says Youth has learn And sometimes it has to learn the hard way Each team obviously needs more quality players. Some may develop from the current rosier, others must be drafted Joe Klecko arrived as a Jets pass rusher. had a better rookie vear than John Elliott did," says Walt Three Razorbacks suspended by Holtz Fayetteville. Ark. (UPI Arkansas Coach Lou Holtz Wednesday suspended three starters, including conference performer Ben Cowins.

from his Orange Bowl- bound Razorback- for disciplinary Holtz said Cowins, running back Michael Forrest and ide receiver Donny Bobo, the team leading catcher, will mis.s the Jan 2 game -gainst ima The Will not pla. in the game Holt? said in a -l iterrvnt the universitv ---iorts information of )Ce i' irn to luake any ng itiis utualion would be unfair to the A far the university said Holtz who in his tirst year as head coach helped the Razorbacks to a lU-l record and a 6 naiu)nal ranking, would have nothing lurther to sav, Thornton, Faiman join MU staff By Randy York Staff Sporta Writar For the new Missouri football staff, Christmas this year be much more than hanging the mistletoe one day and taking it down the next. about all we'll have time for, since we report to the office Dec remarked former Nebraska assistant Bill (Thunder) one of six aides announced Wednesday night by new Tiger head Coach Warren Powers Almost a year ago to the day, John Faiman was searching for a way to break the news to his Omaha South players that he would be leaving to join Powers at Washington State, An Omaha television station did it for him, creating the only negative experience Faiman has had in his first year at the major college level. When things happen in college football, they pop quickly. Faiman Thursday became offensive cimrdinator at Carl Reese, offensive backfield coach this past season, will be the defensive coordinator under Powers John Faiman offensive coordinator Reese is the only holdover from A1 Onofrio's staff after he was fired Nov.

23 following a seven-year stmt as head coach Powers IS taking four Washington State assistants besides Faiman with him to Missouri. Dick Beechner will coach tight ends and specialty teams, Mike Price quarterbacks and receivers, Zaven Yaralian defensive backs and Heydorff defensive ends By Wednesday night, Powers still had not named a defensive line coach That was the position Lou Holtz offered Thornton last year, but the former fullback who captained the 1962 Gotham Bowl champions, rejected the offer 11 feel much more comfortable coaching the running backs for Warren" Thornton said is the situation 1 wanted to get back into football rhornton. 38. was a Nebraska assistant coach three under Bob Devancy before leaving in 1971 to join the staff of the St Louis Cardinals the team with whom he played in the NFL for five -i oMin.N off a waney staff, pro coaching uid nut live up to my expcc- Thornton said 1 was disenchanted snd decided to get out of coaching for awhile Bill Thornton backfield coach 111 landed Alta Denva. whi-re he ha spent the last live years as a youth coordinator for the Los Public Schcwis been athletic administration mainly," Thornton said had my head down and my elbows up so long.

I didn't miss coaching all that much. I eager to get back at it whole family can't wait to move back to We left some fond memories there Since this is the peak of that hectic season, recruiting. Thornton will plunge into his work first and worry about the details later. Wife Leona and sons Bill Jr 13. 11, and Daniel, 6 weeks, will move to Columbia sometime in January Varaban and Heydorff bdh defensive backs, will have the le.ist to work out moving to Mih 'iuri.

Each is only 2- vi old Bee- hner is 43. Thornton aiman Reese 34 and 31 Reese may have bt-cn the happiest of all knowing he won have to move The a vdijt-iin on Dan Sugar Bowl o-am. just first war on the Tig! staff after previous eoa-hnig t-p. at Northtrn Mii'htgun. Ilbr.ois Laslern aruiirui, Virginia and Kansas.

were no legal problems. no law violations, the spokesman said. The spokesman said no decision has been made on whether the players will be allowed to play next year Cowins and are both juniors and Bobo is a sophomore. The loss of the three leaves only junior quarterback Ron Calcgni remaining in the starting kf 1 eId for the game. I- had been alternating starting chores with Roland Sace- of injuries, but had con action and the team's fourth leading rusher Cowins, who led the Southwest (inference in rushing in 1976.

finished second this year behind Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell of Texas with an average of 108 4 vards per game Cowins was 21-d in the country in rushing Judgment filed against Morton Brighton. Colo. (AP) Craig Morton, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, has been ordered to appear in Brighton District Court Jan 25 for allegedly failing to pay a 137,601 debt to a New York bank 34, owes the money to the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co according to a judgment filed against him in the ourt for the ational Football League club. I-uve Fci. said Tuesday that 'rair says it's been taken can- -It Frei he had no details and aid Morton not tu t.

Ik about It Court files, however, showed no nayment of the loan and Carrington, whose firm filed the judgment in Brighton for the York bank refused to comment on the matter He said the bank wanted to handle the matter discretely. Northeast, Southeast matched in first intra-city scrap Probable starters It 4 0 6-3) 6 2 Pet. 3.C 11; Northtatt 2 2 Damkrogtr 6 2 Sprier 6 4 or Poor 6 2 Johnson 6 2 Prat (5-9) Slosson 6 0 By Chuck Sinclair PnpSportiWrttaf On paper, Thursday night Pershing Auditorium matchup between Lincoln Northeast and Lincoln Southeast is so even scary. While most coaches agree those games played on paper, Southeast head man Wally believes the first intra-city scrap will be just like the paper matchup indicates close Both teams must rely on quickness and finesse since Southeast's tallest player is a mere 6-3 and the Rockets' just 6-4. The only real difference between the two teams on paper right now is the success each has enjoyed thus far this season.

Southeast, with no returning starters, two returning lettermen and two transfers has been somewhat of a surprise to McNaught as the only city team to make it four games into the season without a loss. Northeast, also with no returning starters and only one returning letterman, has split its first four games. don't mean a great deal right now. or anytime when city teams are playing each other, McNaught said had the chance to see Northeast personally, but 1 do know there a fine line between winning and losing Ours is a good matchup" While Me.Naught is obviously pleased with the Knights 4-0 start, another aspect that the 1 l-year coaching veteran at Southeast is more enthused about ve been pleased with the effort more than Me.Naught said. been fortunate enough to win four ball games with not a whole lot of experience still finding needs for improvement, but the kids are really trying" '4 Me.Naught has reieived a lot of help from his two transfer starters, 6-3 Vern Fisher and 6-0 Jett Smith Fisher in from indianola.

to lead the Knights to the state football championships at quarterback while Smith came via North Platte, the team Southeast defeated 66-57 in its last outing transfers come from good basketball backgrounds and are pretty sound fundamentally," McNaught said the adjustments everyone has had to make, getting to each other, has been a tribute to the kids the brief time been together as a team, the kids have been pushed quite a McNaught added. ve really responded The Thursday night game will serve as a psuiKio'holiday tournament for the two teams since neither are involved in post- tournaments for the first time in the past years In that respect, nice to have this game tor the kids McNaught said East and Lincoln High will travel west to Kearney next Wednesday for the Kearney holiday tournament While Southeast was racking up wins over the likes of Beatrice, Fremont, Omaha Gross and North Platte, Northeast defeated South Sioux City and Columbus but lost to unbeaten Kearney on the road and once-beaten Omaha Northwest. Juhnson, dean of ('luS'. A prep oji'hes lAith 29 year-; experience behind him at Northeast, remains optimistic I think we ve been improving with eai'h ball game Johnson said Omaha Northwest, we only had mental lapse for about two or three minutes that cost us the ball game. not much you can do about our lack of size" Johnson said people aren going to feel sorry for us." know why anyone wouldn come out for this McNaught said who do will be in for a treat.

It's going to be a hotly contested basketball I.