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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2000)
SPORTS Page 10 ' THE BATTALION Friday,March!; Aggies close out regular season against Cornhuskers BY JASON LINCOLN The Battalion Four starting freshmen, a mere three ^conference wins, eight double-digit loss es to Big 12 opponents — the season would have a hard time getting worse for the Texas A&M men's basketball team. However, the Aggies still have time to close their first true rebuilding season un der men's basketball coach Melvin Watkins on a positive note. Their opportunity will come Satur day as the Aggies (7-19, 3-12 Big 12) face off against the University of Ne braska in Reed Arena at 12:45 p.m. The Cornhuskers (11-17, 4-11 Big 12) are ranked ninth in the conference while A&M is in the eleventh spot. Yet, with an A&M victory, the Aggies could finish the regular season in ninth which would pit them against Baylor Uni versity in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Tlie Aggies w ill rally behind freshman guard Bernard King and senior forward Aaron Jack in an effort to close out the sea son with a win. “It would be nice to finish up strong,” Watkins said. “Nebraska is somewhat like us. They’ve played up and down. At mo ments they’ve played some good basket ball. For us every game is a challenge. We expect those guys to give us all we can handle on Saturday afternoon.” Big 12 Freshman ofthe Year candidate King leads the Aggies’ offensive threat av eraging 16.8 points per game. That num ber leads all Big 12 freshmen, ranks fourth among all freshmen in the nation and leads “We can expect those guys to give us all we can handle on Satur day afternoon/' — Melvin Watkins A&M men's basketball coach all Big 12 guards of any classification. Saturday, King has the opportunity to set a number of A&M and Big 12 regular season records. The freshman phenom is on pace to break Iowa State University for ward Marcus Fizer’s freshman scoring record of447 points. He has already bro ken Fizer’s points-per-game record of 14.7 and only needs nine points to seal the sec ond. With four treys against Nebraska, King would tie the freshman Big 12 three- point scoring record. King could also break A&M freshman records in total points and points per game. Jack provides the veteran experi ence in the paint for the Aggies on both sides ofthe court. In his first game back from dehydration on Wednesday, the senior had 14 points, shooting a perfect 5-5 on the floor and 4-4 on the free throw line. Nebraska poses a number of threats to the Aggies. Forwards Larry Florence and Steffon Bradford along with center Ki- mani Fffiend all bring double figure scor ing averages into the match. The three offer an inside presence that usually poses problems for A&M. Not many members of the young A&M squad were around to remember last season’s 87-68 loss in Lincoln to close out the 1999 conference season. Those that do remember the trip to Ne braska will be looking to return the favor on home territory. The Cornhuskers’ road record plays right into the Aggies’ favor. NU has dropped 10 straight road contests. After closing out the season on Satur day, A&M will prepare for the Big 12 Tournament next weekend. Tech heads Digital revolution courtesy of DSPs from Texas Instruments. Cool. You might be surprised to know that we tech heads and headbangers have something in common. Like a real appreciation for music, as well as for digital solutions. • At Texas Instruments, our digital signal processing (DSP) technology is a catalyst behind the digital revolution. For example, portable Internet audio players that deliver superior-quality digital music that you can connect with any standard, anytime, anywhere. ♦ In addition, Tl DSPs are as diverse as the markets they drive. 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Non-tech heads are welcome, too. www.ti.com 17-1762 © 1999 Tl The World Leader in DSP and Analog ^ Texas Instruments Softball hosts 2nd tourney BY BREE HOLZ 'he Battalion Confidence is something i Texas A&M Softball Team willna lacking heading into this weeken GTF Aggie Invitational II atthed gie Softball Complex. “The team has been playingw a lot of confidence," A&Msofth coach Jo Evans said. “We're ly settling into our lineup whii allowed us to play much morecon sistent.” The Aggies are undefeated i home this season and hold an If record. ()ther teams competingiml weekend’s tournament are the Li versity of Mississippi, thellniva of New Mexico and the Universitiaf KerleeChristopI Minnesota. The Aggies will battle Ole Miss 4:30 p.m.. and will take on Minneso ta at 6:45. They will play New Met) co on Saturday at noon. The Aggies are playing it cautions against Ole Miss, knowing thattl» have the potential to upset A&M' tournament start. “Ole Miss is not very consistent' she said. "They could play great ore night, but play horrible the nextnigk so we really have to be on our toes. New Mexico is an offensively' dominant team and the Aggies nil have to be strong on defensetolx victorious. “[New Mexico] is a great team, but 1 think with our stroii! pitching, we’ll be able to stop theni According to Evans, A&M bases tablished a rivalry with Minnesota!* cause ofthe Aggies’ victory' overt last year. “When we played them lastw, |junior pitcher] Amy Mining pitcW a one-hitter against them,” she sail “To top it off, it was my 400th cares win. Playing them will he very com petitive.” Re BY Al Th The sun short Saturday morni versity students: tl Replant. This year, in plant Committee rooted in traditio Prior to mee planting spots, s Street, behind tin ute to the 12 stuc gie Bonfire colla Three separa plant twelve !ive< as living, growin en Aggies. The 12 Agg: Powell, Jamie Ha Jeremy Framptor da Adams, Bryai and Christopher 1 Family and 1 were present memorials. Speakers for! eluded A&M Pre: Student Body Pi President of Stui Southerland, Din Kevin Jackson ai tional Tree Trust. Bowen said St rial services prov nity to honor the to pass on to gent First time Rep sociology major thought it was very “I find itables nated these trees i ty of the Univers day’s ceremonies least we can do t< mates lost in the t Following et participants left t The Aggies won the GTE Ag$\ Invitational 1 which took place FA 18-20, by winning six consecutivt games. The goal for the team in this tow- nament is to perform with the santi type of dominance. “The field of teams istougherfot this tournament,” she said. “Ourof- tense is great right now, with eighi of our players hitting over .300.1 concern will be the consistency our defense. “Our pitching has really comt alive,” she said. “Mining has taken charge this season with herit merous victories, and [senior pitcher Danielle Lemuth is finally settling into her role.” The team’s many come-from-l* hind wins and scoring in late inning? have contributed to the Aggies suc cess this season. A&M hopes item continue its late game play inti matches. “When you can play even when you're down, it shows the team competitive and won’t give up,” sic said. “It shows we’ve got a chanceto win every game.” Me Baylor Continued from Pagt ofthe ninth inning to steal the gamefc the Owls. Leading the way for the Bears ispirf erChad I lawkins. Despite a 2-2recordi the year, I lawkins is posting a miniscul 0.89 ERA. In 30 1/3 innings of work.1 has allowed only 18 hits, struck out batters and walked only four. Opponcit are only hitting .171 off of Hawkins. Johnson said Hawkins has improve immensely since facing the Aggies last;.:: “He has unbelievable numbers year,” Johnson said. “He’s gotaO$ ERA on the year so he’s not even cins up a run a game. I le pitched a two hi® against OSU and lost last weekend faced him last year, but apparentlyk better than he was last year.” The series starts Friday night at Olsen Field, while the series Waco for the final two games and Sunday. Holt said winning Friday night's at Olsen is imperative for A&M “It’s pretty critical that we win game on Friday,” Holt said. “It’s end of the world, but going intoBayl' ? it’s a tough place to play. They have new stadium that seats about four thousand and it’s going to packe'd. So I think it’s pretty import? that we win that Friday game so we go down there and take one outol [to win the series].” Saturft Hal The University the nation’s foui NCAA singles ch, High rankings enough to spoil tin The 18th-rank< fresh off a threc-w its home schedule trouncing the Gat Tennis Center cro “Our team’s e A&M junior Shi bits out for the ’ The Aggies evi with all three of against top-15 tea “We’ve been first home match freshman Ryan b January after gr; High School in L exciting to be her Madden, ranki the victory by dor Inte In celebration ■ from around the gl ttn to watch fellow of cultures last Fri< Winners for the African Student A: indent Association, I Venezuelan Studei director Maria Mo The judges wei lljsity, including prol tied organization; The judges cho h no ranking oi 5 (ISA) President G it no chosen cul 'best,” and [it] is a Presidents. Fidel Moreno, tit dinatorandagradi tut show awards “ “We’ve been e ik Plaining that the gr three* "tg two or three tin I heginning of Janu; In the dress pa donesian Student/ 4 ^ Student Assoeiatio Nation, according Although 13 cl