Page 13 Sports THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981 d down spe iblemsofti experientf, •ks the assigned toi ver flow i, managei: program t Off theWall By Frank L. Christlieb Rockets after Spurs now The latest episode of the once-a-year NBA playoff saga has intro- ercuryaste , duced a new character who seems determined to steal the show, vinced prs And the annual event has ushered out a group of old villains e right ds | whom, it would seem, should have lost their stage fright after ed totestf several years of playoff experience. * However, as a result of a stunning victory by some show-stealing veterans who have seen many games come and go with little or no glory, the villainous defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have left the stage after a brief performance. After several years of mediocre to downright bad performances in the playoffs (and the regular season), the Houston Rockets surprised NBA fans and followers by knocking off the Lakers, a team which has been too successful for too long. This time around, Kareem and his cocky cronies just couldn’t muster up the strength to put away Moses and his mischievous misfits. And as a result, the Lakers will watch the rest of the playoffs from front row television seats. But don’t think Houston had an easy time of it. The up-and-down Rockets had to use every offensive weapon and defensive tactic available to beat the Lakers, who held on to their crown until the last possible moment. It wasn’t until the last 15 seconds of the first-round series that the Lakers woke up from their year-long championship dream. vinged :s at thee* ight. re nevern :’s the rij .. “I have going im cemed if*- aer way.” ppen agn >eatedly tli i with men; :e an airpk lp se willvdi (responsible for the surprising win had better think again. It took nited States ; to hope "I essful in pe t to volunto ■>. for a met es tic indush all the thine zation. lent James" itions ding cars as: ie automofe d rej en irksome t: )orted by ran rue irees as say® for a seed the desertsof :xas and Ne» r units p» N.C., the Speci al Eglin Aii Dream to nightmare was a harsh transition for the Lakers, who just didn’t seem to have the Magic they used to roll over the 76ers and the rest of the league en route to last year’s title. Those who think that a Rocket named Moses Malone was totally everyone from 5-foot-10 Calvin “Murf ’ Murphy (listed that way, but loser to 5-foot-8) to 6-foot-11 Billy “Whopper” Paultz (a formidable mountain of 250 pounds), for the Rockets to beat the Lakers. The series featured a team of well-known names vs. one of un known names. And the “I’m the best center in the league” contest between the two men who may be tied for that honor, mighty Kareem and just-as-mighty Moses, was one of the finer in recent years’ playoffs. Each team shattered the conventional wisdom of home-court advantage by winning on the other’s home floor, with Houston rent from tk doing it twice. But the Rockets, with their never-say-die-even- against-the-world-champions attitude, also showed that they don’t tbink much about the term “underdog” either. Now Houston faces state rival San Antonio. Although the Rockets are confident after winning the Laker series, they need more than memories to upend the Spurs and to end their history of playoff successes. However, if the once-again-underdog Rockets can freeze “Ice” and the rest of SA’s speedy lineup, they will have an excellent chance of knocking off Stan Albeck’s Spurs. The Rockets and Spurs have played some close games and some not-so-close games in the past few years, and this is the second consecutive year they have met in the playoffs. Houston won two of three games in last year’s first round, and the two teams split six games this season. And one thing's for sure—Bobby Joe, Mighty Mo, Murf, Boons and the other Rockets don’t want their playoff journey to end before they have a chance to do some more giant-killing. GS as etters defeated y Trinity in SA JRS p.m- 11 a.m.-la.m ixas Ave '515 u By RICK STOLLE Battalion Staff Despite the beautiful day, po le crowd and excellent tennis, Texas A&M women’s tennis im was beaten “handily” by finity Tuesday 8-1 in San itonio. “We just took a good old- ihioned country lickin’,” said ■ft. te nis coach Jan Cannon. * As far as we are concerned, they serve their number four nation ranking.” The Ags were only able to mus- a number three doubles win as tinity dominated the courts, a Fernandez and Judy Wil- defeated Karen Luntz and lyOlmedo 6-4, 7-6 to prevent a eep by Trinity. Cannon said the team did not y as well as it could have but E ire simply dominated on the Jit. I For example, she said Pam Hill 6nt up against Australian Gwen :nman in the number three [togles. Despite winning the first h 6-3, Hill was demolished 6-1, |5-1 in the second two sets. “Denman was a big hitter with iwerful serve and forehand,” ion said. “When Denman got i, it was all Pam could do just get out of the way of the jes: Amy Gloss had her Rockets beat SA Ags split two to go 27-4 behind Murphy United Press International SAN ANTONIO — Nobody has been able to convince the Hous ton Rockets they are supposed to be through for the season. The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t get through to the Rockets last week and the San Antonio Spurs failed to get their attention Tues day night. Despite having finished their emotional mini-series with Los Angeles only two days earlier, the Rockets went out Tuesday even ing and convincingly manhandled the Midwest Division champion Spurs, 107-98, in the opening game of their best of seven West ern Conference semifinal series. “What was the difference? I’ll tell you the difference,” said Houston center Moses Malone. “We wanted to win. That’s the dif ference.” Tiny Calvin Murphy came off the bench to take Houston to a first-half lead and Robert Reid hit the key shots down the stretch that helped the steamrolling Rockets hold off the Spurs. The series resumes at the HemisFair arena Wednesday night before the series moves on to Houston for games Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Houston, which came into the playoffs with a losing record, own ed a 13-point lead with six minutes to play. A brief San Antonio spurt nar rowed the deficit to 10 points, but Reid hit a jumper to slow down that rally. And after the Spurs ran off six straight points to cut their deficit to six at 96-90 with four minutes remaining, Reid cooly hit another jumper that ended San Antonio’s hopes for good. Malone, who averaged 31 points in the three-game series with the Lakers, scored 27 Tues day night — but it was Murphy, the 5-9 guard, whose 15 points in the second quarter proved the de ciding factor. Murphy finished with 21 while Billy Paultz added 18. George Gervin paced the Spurs with 30 points, while Ron Brewer tossed in another 18. Houston built a 62-53 halftime lead thanks to spurts at the end of each of the first two periods. San Antonio had built a nine- point advantage of its own with 2:21 left in the first quarter only to see Houston score the last eight points of the period — Paultz scor ing four and Dunleavy hitting four. Murphy scored only two points in the opening quarter, but he erupted with 15 in the second period to ignite the Rockets to their advantage at intermission. The game was tied at 47-47 when Houston ran off 11 straight points. Paultz started the streak with a three-point play, Mike Dunleavy added a basket and Murphy scored on a long jumper before Dunleavy scored again. That prompted a San Antonio time out, but when the Spurs in- bounded the ball Murphy stole the pass and raced in for another basket that gave Houston its largest lead of the half at 58-47. streak of six wins destroyed as she lost to Felicia Richitroe 6-1, 6-4; Fernandez was beaten by Louise Allen 6-1, 6-0; Hill lost to De nman; Maylyn Hooton lost to Kim Wilson 6-1, 6-2; Sonja Hutcherson was defeated by Lee Elliot 6-4, 6-3 and Laura Hanna was beaten by Kathy Kuhn 6-4, 6-3. Cannon said Fernandez typi fied the Aggies against Trinity. “Liliana just was not able to concentrate,” she said. “She seemed a little lost out there and that’s not like her.” In doubles: Hill-Hutcherson lost to Denman-Richitroe 6-1, 6-3; Hanna-Closs were beaten by Elliot-Allen 6-4, 7-5 and Fernan- dez-Willard had the only win for the Ags. The loss brings the Aggies spring record to 12-8 with four matches left on the schedule. And Cannon said the matches will be only slightly less challenging than the Trinity match. The Ags will travel to Dallas to take on SMU Saturday and to De nton to play North Texas State University Sunday. The final two Aggie regular sea son matches will be Friday, April 17 against Texas Tech and Satur day, April 18 versus Texas. The Tech match will be at the Omar Smith Tennis Center at 1:30 p.m. FREE LARGE SOFT DRINK WITH PURCHASE OF WESTERN OR MEXICAN SPUD (with coupon) GOOD THRU 4-18-81 775-4775 WE ALSO SERVE DELICIOUS SALADS AND 3 DIFFERENT SUPER SANDWICHES! 10 DIFFERENT SUPER POTATOES AND 4 KINDS OF NACHOSI NOTHING OVER S2.69I OPEN 1 1 AM-9 PM MON.-SAT. CLOSED SUN. LOCATED AT 403 VILLA MARIA — 1 BL. WEST OF TEXAS AVE. ABU NATIONAL OIL COMPANY and its affiliates are announcing employment oppor tunities available in the United Arab Emirates for unsponsored Arab Nationals who will be Spring or Summer 1981 graduates in the field of Petroleum Engineering. In addition they announce several oppor tunities for Arab Nationals who will be Spring or Summer 1981 graduates in the fields of Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. For more information please contact Ahmad Ramahi at: (812) 334-2219. 1 ge< ^ V/p yMon-' I ' flHEAJC ClLAJfJf thore dina,ry 5-2611 209 E. University 846-4771 By CAROLYN BARNES Battalion Staff Texas A&M’s softball team went 13 innings against Sam Houston State during the double-header opener Tuesday before Sam Houston pulled away with a 2-1 victory. The Aggies came back during the nightcap blanking Sam Hous ton 9-0. Coach Bill Galloway said that the Aggies played well enough to win during the opener, but “couldn’t quite buy the hit.” Galloway said the same thing happened when the Aggies came up against the pitching of Sam Houston’s Terri Young earlier this spring. Galloway said that there was good defensive play by rightfiel- der Patti Holthaus, Carrie Au- stgen on second base and Pam Whigham on first base. During one play the Aggie’s teamwork came through when Holthaus bare handed a relay to Austgen. The Aggies had eight hits dur ing the opener. Holthaus got on base in the 11th inning with a sing le. Mel Pritchard drove Holthaus home for the necessary score to kep the game going with a sacrifice fly. Sam Houston had five hits dur ing the opener against Shan McDonald’s pitching. McDonald is now 13-3 for the spring. Pitcher Lori Stoll, who is now 14-1, had seven strike-outs during the nightcap. It is the most strike outs Stoll has ever had against Sam Houston. Pritchard and Austgen each had two base hits during the second game. Rightfielder Karen Guerrero With the double-header split hit her first homerun as an Aggie the Aggies are now 27-4 for the in the sixth inning of the nightcap. spring. APRIL 8 LENTEN SERVICE 11:15-10:50 ALL FAITHS CHAPEL HOLY COMMUNION Michael Miller, UCM Campus Pastor Presbyterians — UCC — Disciples 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I _j Take the $25.00* Challenge at Bud Ward's!;! just can't lose!;i So Soz Fiddlin'i! Foron i| Association of Former Students Spring Senior Induction Banquets April 13 & 14, 1981 6:30 p.m. Brazos Center All May and August graduates are invited to attend. Com plimentary tickets will be available April 6-10 in the lobby of the Forsyth Alumni Center. Banquet is free — but you must have a ticket to attend. TICKETS GIVEN ON FIRST COME — FIRST SERVED BASIS Now Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased With These Carefully Prepared and Taste Tempting Foods. Each Daily Special Only $2.13 Plus Tax. “Open Daily” Dining: 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. MONDAY EVENING SPECIAL Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy Whipped Potatoes You; Choice of One Vegetable Roll or Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea TUESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Mexican Fiesta Dinner Two Cheese and Onion Enchiladas w chili Mexican Rice Patio Style Pinto Beans Tostadas Coffee or Tea One Corn Bread and Butter WEDNESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Chicken Fried Steak w cream Gravy Whipped Potatoes and Choice of one other Vegetable Roll or Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea THURSDAY EVENING SPECIAL Italian Candle Light Spaghetti Dinner SERVED WITH SPICED MEAT BALLS AND SAUCE Parmesan Cheese - Tossed Green Salad Choice of Salad Dressing - Hot Garlic Bread Tea or Coffee FOR YOUR PROTECTION OUR PERSONNEL HAVE HEALTH CARDS FRIDAY EVENING SPECIAL BREADED FISH FILET w/TARTAR SAUCE Cole Slaw Hush Puppies Choice of one vegetable Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee SATURDAY NOON and EVENING SPECIAL Yankee Pot Roast (Texas Salad) Mashed Potato w/ gravy Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee SUNDAY SPECIAL NOON and EVENING ROASTTURKEY DINNER Served with Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Dressing Roll or Corn Bread - Butter - Coffe or Tea Giblet Gravy And your choice of any One vegetable