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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1981)
Page 14 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1981 Coogs nick Aggies by 5 By JON HEIDTKE Battalion Staff It took Texas A&M halfway into the bewildering Southwest Conference basketball race to live up to their lofty pre-season status, but Houston’s sensational guard Rob Williams showed the 8,500 fans in Hofheinz Pavilion why he is deserving of all-America honors in leading the Cougars to a 76-71 win over the Aggies. The 6-1 sophomore pumped in 33 points from every area on the court in leading the Cougars to a 7-1 SWC mark and 16-3 season standard. On the night Williams was 14 out of 18 from the field (a 78 percent clip) and canned five of seven charity tosses. “He is definitely worth a full scholarship, ” Head Coach Shelby Metcalf said of the Houston scor ing machine, “and the best peri meter player in the conference. ” The Aggies came out of the blocks like gangbusters and showed no signs of their mid sea son slump which has sent them into the SWC cellar. A Reggie Roberts (14 points) steal and lay up started the Aggies on a scor ing spree which saw them hit seven of their first eight shots. Under normal circumstances, the Aggies would have been well on their way to a blow out. In the first half the Aggies shot 62 per cent from the field (18 out of 29) in rolling up their biggest first half score of SWC action by netting 41 points. But there was only one prob lem — Houston outshot and out- scored the Aggies in the first period. The Cougars meshed 20 of 32 shots (63 percent) and outre- bounded A&M by a 16 to 13 margin. Behind the shooting of Rynn Wright (18 points to lead the team), Reggie Roberts and Roy Jones (15 points) the Aggies led Roy Jones most of the first period, but could only build a lead as large as three points, as Williams and teammate Clyde Drexler combined for 30 of the Cougar’s first half points. Even with Williams ungodly shooting, the Cougars would have still found themselves in a hole if it wasn’t for the rebound ing of Drexler. The 6-6 freshman from Houston Sterling pulled down seven of his game high 11 offensive rebounds in the first half and converted all of those for bas kets which resulted in 14 points. The Cougars took their first lead in the game at 40-39 with a 1:14 left in the half on a pair of free throws by Williams. Wright, who showed signs of regaining his old form, put the Ags back on top for the last time of the evening with two free throws with a minute left. Williams then put on his most spectacular show of the evening. Driving deep into the corner, he let loose an arching 30-footer which found nothing but net, while he ended up completely out of bounds. With only five seconds left, A&M turned it over and gave Williams one more chance. As soon as he crossed half court the Aggies triple-teamed him, but somehow Williams still got the shot off which glanced off the backboard and then bounced around the rim before falling and bringing the partisan Cougar fans to a rousing standing ovation. The first five minutes of the second half was all Houston as the Aggies stumbled and fumbled their way to a 58-48 deficit. The 10-point lead gave Houston coach Guy Lewis the luxury of going to the spread offense. The Cougars whittled the clock down to two minutes and held a 71-62 lead before the A&M press ure began to rattle them. A Maurice McDaniels layup after a steal, a Roy Jones jumper and three-point play by Roberts pul led the Ags within two, 71-69, with 57 seconds left to play. But then an all too familar scene reappeared for A&M. After the Cougars Michael Young put Houston up by four, the Ags brought the ball down and missed a shot and a scramble for the ball ensued. It appeared that Roberts ended up with the ball after col liding with a Cougar and a foul was called. It could have gone either way, but like the trend has been all year, it went against A&M. Eric Davis put the Cougars up by five, 74-69, by hitting one of the two free throws he was awarded. Then with 13 seconds left, Wil liams picked Milton Woodley clean and finished off the Aggies and his scoring outburst with a layup. Tyrone Ladson concluded the evening’s scoring with a jum per at the buzzer, making the fin al score 76-71. * * * * * * * t—»—?—?—v~~r~T~T~~r~r~r~r~r^T SURPRISE HAPPY HOUR! ZACHARUS GREENHOUSE club & flam* P&pIo* Bartender rings the bell at hour of his choice between 7-11 p.m. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Regular Happy Hour 4-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. (no cover charge) ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Chile con queso for both happy hours! 1201 Hwy. 30 in the Briarwood Apts., College Station 693-9781 pool tournaments every Monday night backgammon tournaments every Tuesday night arm wrestling j tournaments every Thursday night uflyuL every i uesoay nignt ^v^iy muisuay myiiL w e PIZZA ^M& C0UP0N PiZZ/V * subs ,v X 3 s o'oO jp v .rf>' s ' ,<U !=ast Ree fta* * ERY ^6.3768 TWO FREE COKES Walton claims ‘negligence United Press International PORTLAND, Ore. — Bill Walton, one-time Most Valuable Player in the NBA, seeks more than $5 million in damages in his suit over the broken foot which interrupted his professional basketball career. The amount of damages Walton seeks from 21 physicians was re vealed in a Multnomah County Circuit Court announcement setting a trial date of June 1. Walton filed the suit against Portland Trail Blazers’ team physician Dr. Robert Cook and 20 unnamed doctors in the Oregon City Orthope dic Clinic March 20. The amount of damages sought was not specified at that time. In the suit, alleging medical malpractice, Walton asks $632,000 for lost wages and medical expenses and $5 million in general damages. Walton claims an injury to his left foot was negligently treated in March and April of 1978 when he was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, the season after the Blazers won the NBA title. Walton missed the final 22 games of the regular season that spring but returned for the playoffs and was named the league’s MVP of the 1977-78 season. The complaint claims the nature and extent of his injury were not discovered until July 1978 when he consulted other doctors. Walton claims the “carelessness and negligence” of the defendants Rockets waltz over Nets m resulted in the fracture, aggravation of the fracture, perniaiiM? weakening of the foot, vulnerability to later fractures and damage; S nerves, muscles and soft tissues of the foot. The complaint contends Walton was "deprived of his ability (,||S engage in his professional basketball career, which resulted in sub% tial loss of his future earning capacity.” A status hearing on the suit is scheduled Feb. 11 before)^ Charles Crookham, presiding judge of Multnomah County Ciraji Court. The San Diego Clippers signed Walton as a free agent after his Tit Blazer contract expired at the end ol the 1979-80 season. Since joinlj San Diego, Walton has played only sporadically as injuries recurrei United Press International HOUSTON — Moses Malone’s 29 points Wednesday night helped put Houston in front from the start Wednesday night and led the Rock ets to an easy 111-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Both teams played short handed with only nine healthy players. It was the fifth time in the last seven games that Houston was able to hold its opponent to under 100 points and the win moved the Rock ets into second place in the Midwest Division. The Rockets had doubled the Nets score at 24-12 in the first period be hind the scoring of Malone and Ma jor Jones and the floor leadership of Allan Leavell. Malone had 12 points, Jones six and Levell four assists to build that lead. Houston maintained a comfort able lead throughout the first half, outrebounding the Nets, 27-17. The Nets pulled to within five with seven minutes remaining behind the inside play of Maurice Lucas and Cliff Robinson, but both men picked up their fifth personal foul and the Nets comeback ended. Mike Dunleavy added 19 points for the Rockets with Jones scoring 16. The Nets’ were by Robinson with 22, Mike Newlin with 20 and Lucas with 18. § RESTAURANT ^ AND 1 CLUB 696-0388 707 Complex on Texas Ave.