Sports
Page 4
The Battalion
Friday, December^
1992 TEXAS A&M BASKETBALL
Barone continues with rebuilding process
By CHRIS WHITLEY
Sports Writer of THE BATTALION
In a school where football is king,
Texas A&M basketball has been con
stantly striving to find its rightful place
in the monarchy.
It has been a program trying to escape
a past of NCAA violations and losing
seasons while trying also to achieve a fu
ture of big-time recruits that will com
pete in the Southwest Conference.
This herculean feat was placed in the
hands of Tony Barone in 1991 when he
took over the head coaching job at A&M.
Although he suffered through a 6-22 sea
son last year, it did not come close to
telling the whole story.
A&M plays home opener
Texas A&M will open its home
season on Saturday night when it
takes on the Missouri Tigers at 7 p.m.
in <3. Rollie White Coliseum.
Highlighted by a freak carbon monox
ide accident in Baylor University's Fer
rell Center that sent the entire team and
coaching staff to the hospital, the Aggies
also had to endure the death of Barone's
mother, an injury to leading scorer Da
mon Johnson that kept him on the side
lines for 11 games and the knowledge
that their dream basketball facility
would not be built anytime soon.
Still, A&M fought through the adver
sity and held its ground with teams like
Auburn and Alabama. In its final game
of the season, the first round of the SWC
Postseason Classic, A&M held a halftime
lead over top-seeded Texas before even
tually falling, 88-69.
This year, the quality of the Aggies'
schedule increases dramatically. They
See Aggies/ Page 6
Johnson returns
from foot injury
to lead Aggies
By DON NORWOOD
Sports Writer of THE BATTALION
Battalion file photo
A&M’s Damon Johnson (34) snags a rebound while Anthony Ware (42)
and Texas Tech’s Lance Hughes (4) look on during a game last season.
Damon Johnson is ready to make up for
lost time.
Texas A&M's sophomore forward might
not admit it outright, but his quiet confidence
and the way he carries himself oozes eager
ness for catching up for lost opportunities.
And who can blame him?
The 6-5 Johnson was on his way to earning
Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year
honors last year, averaging 19.5 points and
15.5 rebounds per game against SWC oppo
nents. But a foot injury that he suffered
against Texas that appeared at first to be mi
nor turned out to be a fracture, leaving him
on the bench for 11 games while Texas young
ster Terrence Rencher went on to be the con
ference's top freshman.
After his comeback late in the season, John
son played well enough to average 15.6 points
and 7.7 boards per game for the entire season.
But the damage had been done, not only for
the 6-22 Aggies, but also for Johnson, who
was deeply affected by his injury.
"It hurt," Johnson said with a sigh. "The
way I looked at it, God had a reason for it. I
just tried to find the reason. I tried to look for
the hidden good."
The good part of Johnson's broken foot
proved to be extremely hard to find. Losing a
player of his magnitude can produce one of
two very polarized results for a basketball
team.
The rest of the team can elevate themselves
to new heights, or the team can fold like a
worn-out pup tent, left wondering about
See Johnson/ Page 6
Aggies put
scare into
New Mexico
Friday,
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Canon*
Neves hit a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left
then blocked Texas A&M point
David Edwards' shot with 3 seconds it
maining Thursday as New Mexico score;
a 71-69 win over the Aggies.
Neves, who finished with 16pointsanl
Khari Jaxon — 21 points and seven block
— led a late New Mexico (2-0) rail,
against an Aggie team that was making!;
season debut.
Damon Johnson hurt New Mexicoir
side with 25 points and 10 rebounds
while Edwards scored 19 points.
Neves erased the Aggies' final
with a rainmaker 3-pointer from the top
the key that put the Lobos up 69-67.To
A&M center Brett Murry misfired on a
pointer with 20 seconds left, butjaxoi
couldn't control the rebound and theAp
gies got one more shot.
They got the ball to Edwards, whohai
hit a pair of clutch field goals in the set
ond half to keep the Aggies in front. E
wards pierced New Mexico's defense
FUa#
CXj««\
pulled up in the key for a 10-foot jumpei
that Neves swatted away.
New Mexico guard Steve loga:
grabbed the loose ball and hit a pain:
free throws with 2 seconds left
Johnson hit a layup at the buzzerfu
the final points. i b- u j
Texas A&M, which was 6-22 last yei
irt lost to T\Jp>w Mpviro hv ?? nninkr 0 Bob i
At a
lancing
jsual an
: aces se
This is i
ommei
and lost to New Mexico by 22 points
College Station, Texas, trailed byasmuc
as 12 points (25-13) after the Lobos rano
15 straight points early in the first half.
The Aggies took their first lead at4M
with 13:00 left in the game on a backdtw fope C
layup by Tony McGinnis and had a 59-j! perfecth
lead with 4:10 left after Edwards hital ^ nc j s
pointer with one second left on thesk 1
clock.
noney.
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&
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Jeff 693-9624 Krista 696-8186
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