Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 28

D6 (Shf Bumwfiham NfWW SATURDAY Birmingham Poat-llcrald Ptwwbir 14 1991 Basketball Southern Mississippi arAubumli! Southern Mm (3-1) Tigers wary of Mr Everything streak ends 4 In beating Troy Stale 141-1 16 on Wednesday Wesley Parson scored a caneer-hltJi 33 points Aaron Swlnaon scored a career-high 31 points and Sad an Auburn record with seven dunks In one game The Eagles bat their Set game on Monday 87-76 at East Tannasaoo State The last Sma SouSwm MIm and Auburn played Southern Miss won 84-73 In the Blue Angela Qasslo In 1989 Ctarenoa Weatherspoon had 1 1 points 13 rebounds and won the tournament MVP sward Aubrey Wley oould be avalabla lor Vw ftret WSey has mleaad tha last morth with a Ml foot If ha can play ha probably percent of Ns potential and Ns minutes size experience and effort oould make a of the Household" special The pays a 86 admission and the rest of each nKnwUoQOB Everything for Southern Eagles said not a lot of things he da He can shoot it from the perimeter he can drive it you He's awesome playing with By Richard Scott Foat-Hcrild Report The temptation for Clarence Weatherspoon might be to look at Auburn'! email starting frontline and lick hii chops over the prospects of a big game The reality is that Weatherspoon is too smart to be swayed by temptation Four seasons at Southern Miss and two summers of International competition have taught him to play his game his way Weatherspoon Southern 6-foot-7 240-pound senior forward will put his 181 points and 118 rebounds per game against Auburn at 1:30 pm today at Eaves Memorial Coliseum The last time Auburn saw Weatherspoon he was a sophomore scoring 11 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in an 84-73 victory over the Tigers in the 1089 Blue Angels Classic Weatherspoon won the tour- nament most valuable player award and left a lasting impression on Auburn coach Tommy Joe Eagles Back then Weatherspoon stayed Inside playtog with his back to the basket After watching progress in the pan two seasons opinion has risen like NBA stock I Weatherspoon is Mr back to the basket as a power player defends smart hun-' He plays hard a leader for basketball It's enough to remind Eagles of a farmer Auburn player remind our people here a it deal of Charles Barkley" lies said think about having to play against a guy with those kinds of skills and abilities is frightening" Auburn could get some help on Weatherspoon from the return of Aubrey Wiley a 6-foot-fl 250-pound junior who has missed the past month with a stress fracture in his left foot Wiley has been cleared to play and could contribute today but Eagles indicated Wiley would be less than 100 percent ready site and experience would help offset Southern size The Eagles also have a 8-6 freshman at center Glen Whisby and a 6-8 senior craning off the bench Glen Courtney Miss is probably one of the largest and most physical basketball teams seen" Eagles said Tide ready to snap back after week off Weatherspoon Ron Rambert Glen Whisby Bernard Hutott 1 Dallas Ode Aaron Swtneon Wesley Person Chris Brandi Champ Wrench Ronnie Bade WHEN 1:30 pm today WHERE: Eaves Memorial Cotoaum In AIRWAVES: WERC (969AM) NOTES: Auburn sat single-game Isam points In a game a hall (78) Md goals obvious place to start is Clarence Despite dominating potential he Ini getting carried away with the possibility of playing against Auburn's smaller less experienced inside players have to respect Weatherspoon said played against them in Pensacola a couple of years ago and they had a lot of quick players If I go in there thinking that I can just take the ball and inside and do whatever I want sitting on the bench with three charging The Eagles can barely afford that Not only is Weatherspoon probably the best player in Southern Miss basketball history he is one of only two starters returning from last team "But he had someone step on his foot in practice and he twisted his ankle and he really practiced much this week just have to see how he is Guard James Robinson who had hampered somewhat by back is ready to go Sanderson not been scoring like he did non said then last Sanderson defenses are stronger keying on him "And his shot selection needs to be better He needs to do what the defense lets him do let the offense to him" against him Bandits put Six days ago the Birmingham Bandits were reeling from the effects of a five-game losing streak and the loss of leading scorer Michael Ansley to the NBA nothing like two victories in a row including an overtime victory on the road to change all that The Bandits won for the second consecutive game last night beating the Tulsa Zone 134-128 in overtime The Bandits outscored the Zone 34-25 in the fourth quarter and 20-14 in overtime for an important victory Not only did the Bandits win on the road they also picked up five points in the standings: three points for winning the game and one each for winning the second and fourth quarters The Bandits lead the Eas Auburn records for moat (55) and assists (33) After a 21-6 season and a Metro Conference regular-season title last season the Eagles lost three starters who averaged a total of 422 points and 135 rebounds per game not like Southern Miss coach MK Turk or Weatherspoon is sitting around worrying about the losses Instead the Eagles are 3-1 and Weatherspoon is taking his game to a higher level guys were neat players and we miss Weatherspoon said got some good young players and recruits who can play the game and Weatherspoon knows good young players when he sees them after playing far the US team in the Pan Am Games In addition to facing top international competition he found himself facing top college players such as Duke's Christian Laettner Robinson is averaging 167 points a game The Tide is led by Horry the 6-foot-9 senior who is averaging 197 points 80 rebounds and 45 bucked shots per game In fact blocked shots is a specialty of Alabama this year The Tide has 53 blocks in six games 883 per game A year ago Alabama averaged 50 blocks a game with 165 blocks in 33 games Another senior Latrell Sprewell has slammed his way into the forefront of this team too Sprewell is averaging 193 points and 48 re- end to Zone tern Division with a an 8-9 record and 59 points Guards Jim Farmer (29 points) and Michael Outright (27) and forward Skeeter Henry (25)led the scoring for the Bandits but the real scoring star was center Eugene McDowell The Bandits were in need of some scaring help after Ansley with the Philadelphia 76ers two weeks ago and McDowell came through with 23 points last night McDowell Mt of eight-of-16 shots from the field including three-of-four three-point attempts He also pulled down seven rebounds Outright and Farmer also Mt their three-point shots Outright went 5 for 11 from three-point range and Outright Mt all three of his Junior forward tbna this season stress fracture In Ns wi be about 75 wM be United but Ns I nOQCMKM QnVPVnOi Today's game Is head of the household the famly pays (1 and North Eric Montross day after day "That was a real good experience far me playing against the top players every day" Weatherspoon said really got a good overview of how the game Is played at that After averaging 17J prints and 126 rebounda per game last season he returned to Southern Miss for Ms final season and added a more versatile dimension to his game by facing the basket shooting from the outside and putting the bail on the floor new role is more demanding but he really see it that way He see it as a challenge to be met a senior now and there are certain things I should be he said just trying to do what capable of trying to do what's needed of bounds and has played the best defense on the team Sprewell held two of the Atlantic Coast top scorers Bryant Stith of Virginia and Tran Gugliotta of NC State to an average 115 prints Old Dominion brings in another top player in 6-7 forward Ricardo Leonard The Washington DG native is averaging 263 prints and 66 rebounda and will undoubtedly be another test for Sprewell "Old Dominion has one great player in Sanderson said a big strong difficult to defend? kid and be The Monarchs are in their first season as members of the Colonial Athletic Association after leaving the Sun Belt in the off-season Sanderson said it will be at least a couple of weeks before he decides whether to allow forward Marcus Webb to return to the team Webb was suspended from the team for academic reasons before the season began He was not ineligible by either NCAA or university standards but Sanderson was not pleased with performance in the classroom get his grades in a couple of weeks and then Sanderson said know right now what in overtime As a team the Bandits made 55 percent of their three-pointers (11 for 20) wMIe the Zone was off the mark on 12 of its 14 three-point shots The three-point shooting helped offset 61-47 rebounding edge Jawaim Oldham led Tulsa with 17 rebounds five at the offensive end The Bandits did more than bomb from three-point range Henry missed his only three-point attempt but he Mt I0-of-18 shots from the floor and led the Bandits with 12 rebounds AC Carver led the Zone with 32 prints Shawn McDaniel added 28 and Tracy Moore 26 The Bandits will stay on the road for their next game 7:05 pm tomorrow against the Omaha Racers Aaociated Ptmi BOSTON Ricky Pierce finally missed a foul shot and failed to the NBA record far consecutive free throws and the Seattle SuporSoriWt faltered last night losing to Boston 117-97 Pierce began the game with-p streak of 75 foul shots in a row thres short of matching Calvin Murphy's mark But he missed his first attempt of the night with 2:30 left In the third quarter shooting off back of the rim tc NBA wrapup Pierce led Seattle with 21 but that enough Larry Bird who has the third-longest foul shoof ing streak at 71 scored 28 prints foi the Celtics as they won for the nintl time In 10 games 1 At a halftime ceremony (to Celtics retired guard Dennis John son's number railing it to the Boston Garden rafters on a green and-wMte banner 4 Heat 112 Hornets 108 CHARLOTTE Rony Seikaly hgi game-hlgha of ZS points and 14 rebounds to lead the Heat After right lead changes In the fourth quarter Keith Asum put the Heat ahead 107-106 with a follow allot -A Rice scored 22 prints and Kevin Edwards had 18 for the Heat Laity Johnson led the Hornets with 25 and Kendall Gill had 21 Sixers 104 Twelves 95 MINNEAPOLIS Hersey Hawk cored 23 prints and Charles Barkley 16 with 14 rebounda as the PhM-delphia 76ers won at Minnesota fop the first time ever Charles Shackleford scored a aon-Mgh 15 prints and grabbed 13 cq bounds as the 76ers topped the 109-print mark for just the third time in llnunea The 76ers were 0-2 in Minnesota and 1-3 overall against Minnesota since the Wolves joined the league Pacers 124 Mavs 108 INDIANAPOLIS Reggie Miller cored 17 of Mi 21 first-half points the second period to start Indiana tat ward a victory over Dallas Chuck Person led Indiana with0 prints Miller added 30 and Smits had 10 prints and 13 1 Derek Harper led Dallas with 11 points Terry Davis and Rriandc Blackmon added 16 each Suns 112 Spurs 107 SAN ANTONld Jeff Hornacek cored 26 prints and Tom ChambcQ added 24 as the Phoenix Suns wjpf their ninth consecutive game Sean Elliott's leason-ugh 12 prints led the Spun David Robinson had 30 prints and 15 rebounds for San Antonio which lost its second consecutive hone game after opening the season with eight straight wins on its own court Antoine Carr contributed JO prints Phoenix 7-6 on the road has lost a game since Nov 26 I Bulls 99 Knicks 89 CHICAGO Michael Jordan hmJ back from a fight with Greg Anthony finished with 27 prints as the Chicago Bulla won for the 16th time in 17 games With in the third i ive toward the hi trying to draw an offensive foul The two play- ird quarter Jordan drove toward the basket and Anthony stepped in the way 1 players collided and Jordan fell to the floor 1 Jordan flung the ball at Anthonjr-quickly got to nis feet and went after the Knicks guard Teammates separated Jordan and Anthony and TO' punches were thrown CHINESE SKS FINEST QUALITY THI GUN CELLAR CTMMHIMf-tm SPORTS OTUNEl 1-900454-0990: Scores Results News Fast Updates 24 Hours a Day Only 950 per minute 4 Touch-tone phone required A By Ray Melick Pet-Herald Reporter Alabama senior Robert Horry said he know how good this team could be until he saw how his team- mates bounced back after a loss Well today he gets his chance The CMmson Tide (5-1) plays host to Old Dominion (1-3) at 1:30 pm today in Coleman Coliseum It will be first game since a 79-74 loss to UNGCharlotte in the finals of the Tournament of Champions in Charlotte last Saturday think be all right" said Alabama head coach Wimp Sanderson had enough practice time to stay on the court and keep working am a little concerned with some players having exams Saturday morning But that seems to happen every year" It is exam time on the campus of the University of Alabama which is why the Tide has not played a game in a week However the Tide got in plenty of action last week with four games in a seven-day stretch Alabama won three of those four I been tough this week with Sanderson said worked every day but Wednesday And we worked on the things we UAB 9 From page D1 I Auburn is still a few players away and the rest of victories have come against the Southwestern Athletic Conference and a team from Idaho I But the Gophers appear to be for real They are No 10 in the nation in the USA Today computer rankings with victories over Providence (89-82) and Arizona State (69-37) in the Maul Invitational Their only loss came in the season-opener to Arkansas and even then Minnesota stayed close before losing 92-83 And against UAB the Gophers would appear to have a suable advantage in the frontcourt The Blazers tallest starter is 6-foot-7 while Minnesota starts two 6-8 forwards and a 7-foot center is going to be our biggest challenge so for Bartow said really match up very well with Because of the size difference Bartow said he probably will bring Ftank Haywood who plays much taller than Ms 6-5 frame indicates and g-8 sophomore Clarence Thrash off the bench sooner than usual Haywood leads the team with 12 blocked shots despite averaging less than 18 minutes a game And after sitting out last year because of Proposition 48 Thrash gradually is developing into the Inside player Bartow was hoping for Thrash is averaging 75 points and 43 rebounds in' only 12 minutes of playing time kicked around the idea of jtprting Frank but decided to keep things like they said Bartow Classified WORKS 252-1411 didn't do well in defending the three-point shot rebounding and free-throw shooting think the week off (from playing) will affect us It But hard to tell with exams Practice has been so-so I Freshman Jason Caffey twisted an ankle earlier in the week and is questionable for this game Caffey was averaging 17 points and 17 rebounds a game in a reserve role but this is the kind of game Sanderson hoped to see him play in might be able to Sanderson said like for him to play He needs to play in games like this who is known to be slightly superstitious give us a little more size across the front going to start the same five but Frank will probably be in there pretty However Haskins said taller does not always mean better and he is doubtful the Gophers have a player who can match up well with UAB leading scorer Elbert Rogers have height but we have anyone as mobile or as agile as Haskins said have good players with pod size but we have anybody with that kind of athletic At least not yet But this is a young Minnesota team completely different from the squad that lost to Georgia Tech by two points in the Final Eight of the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago The Gophers have eight freshmen and only one senior still need a lot of Haskins said got two very big wins out in Hawaii But not playing las well something concerned UAB is hoping a victory in this game will be the catalyst that will propel the team into the top 25 for the first time in yean The Blazers have three more games after tonight at UAB Arena where they are 42-3 Victories in all four games would give UAB a 10-1 record and possibly a national ranking been in the top 25 since been junior Stanley Jackson said very reachable But to do that we've got to beat teams like Minnesota goal is to go undefeated in this place (UAB Arena) and to get into the top That would be sweet indeed for the Blazers As sweet as candy BASEBALL CARD SHOW SATURDAY DEC 14th 9 AM 5 PM Admission $100 A NN Pe Vmlnstituteat Binnlngham Isouthem DeVry InsUM (2-4) MikeGranato 96 Jr 167 26 Danny Servick 91 Jr 36 22 WHEN 760 pm today WHERE: BSCa BN BatUa Cotoaum AIRWAVES: WCEO (1289AM) NOTES: DWIyhaarapleoed Danny 6tubbe tha top aoorar In the nation last year in any dMaion (40 points par game) with guard Stanley Alan (31 points par gams)- Cantor Mke Ramsey averages a team-high ssvan rebounds BSCs Darrin Moore ialOfii In foe country in fialdgoN percentage (70 percent) The Panthers are Na 18 In the latest NAlApoi GUNTand KNIFEISHOW aah Door Prize Both Days our last Birmingham Show 'until April 4 A 5J92 NCAA Division l-AA Football Semi-Finals! SAMFORD vsYoungstown State TODAY on WVTM-13 Kickoff 11am LIVE from Youngstown Ohio Play-by-play with Ken Lass and Jjm Dunaway AIRPORT 8181 Airport Hay PH 592-8118 Birmingham l4-llerul 1 I.