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Monday, March 6, 2(XM)
SPORTS
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BA&M junior David Morrow swims in the Big 12 Championships. The
Aggies finished the competition in fourth place.
Ags place fourth at
Big 12 Championships
GUY ROGERS/TheBAmu
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BY MATT LAGESSE AND
JASON LINCOLN
The Battalion
The likelihood that two teams would
finish the Big 12 Men’s Sw imming and
Diving Championship separated by only
ive to give Baylor crei a single point w as remote at best. Yet,
came out and madepla; Texas A&M University would be edged
rts of the game. Well out of the top three by such a margin by
m, then they got itba|lo'Ya State University in the three-day.
2000-point competition.
The Cyclones held the Aggies 564-
563 to claim third place behind Univer-
sityofNebraska. Meanwhile, No. 1 Uni
versity of Texas scored 1007 points to
win its 21 st straight conference champi
onship by 358 points, a Big 12 record.
Closing out the bracket was the Uni
versity of Kansas, finishing in fifth place
with 336 points, while Missouri closed
out the competition in sixth place with
301 points.
With first place firmly in the hands of
the Longhorns, and second place be
longing to the Cornhuskers, a duel for
third place between the Aggies and Cy-
/nframural
clones began to brew.
Heading into the first event of the
evening, 1SU was clinging to a nine-
point advantage over the Aggies.
A&M erased the deficit by the mid
competition when sophomore Patrick
Kennedy finished second in the 200-yard
backstroke. Kennedy established a new
A&M record of 1:44.81 and an NCAA
C hampionships consideration time.
“I laving Pat Kennedy do what he did
in the 200-yard backstroke was a year
earlier than we expected,” Texas A&M
men’s swimming coach Mel Nash said.
“We now have six going to the NCAAs
and that is one more than we thought we
would have.”
The Aggies' lead would be short
lived as ISU stormed back in the 200-
yard butterfly with four swimmers scor
ing points.
A&M regained the lead with a pair of
top-three perfonnances in platform div
ing. Sophomore Jesse Even landed sec
ond place with 562.20, while freshman
See Big 12 on Page 8.
Rec Fitness
Aggies down ’Huskers in overtime
BY JASON LINCOLN
The Battalion
Bernard King wasted no time closing out his stellar
freshman season in style. Only one minute into the game,
the Texas A&M guard hit his first three-pointer to open
up scoring against Nebraska and all but seal the Big 12
Freshman of the Year crown.
Before all was said and done. King held the Big 12
freshman titles for most points scored (468) and most
points per game (17.3), and tied for most three-pointers
(79). The first two records exceeded Iowa State forward
Marcus Fizer’s 1997 marks of447 points and 14.7 points
per game, while the 79 threes tie Kansas guard Jeff
Bosehee’s 1998 standard.
The A&M men’s basketball team rallied behind
King's 30 points and 10 rebounds Saturday in Reed Are
na to close the regular season with an 83-76 overtime win
over the Cornhuskers and secure the tenth seed in the Big
12 Tournament.
“It was a big game for the kids,” A&M men’s basket
ball coach Melvin Watkins said. “Although it was a nail
biter, for us to go out with a win on our home court says
a lot for those young men.”
King had other motives for the win than making a
statement for the Big 12 title — the freshman was taking
care of the Aggie seniors. The four A&M seniors com
bined for 28 points, led by Jerald Brown with 11 points
and Aaron Jack with nine. Jason Boeker and Paul Jacobs
closed out the seniors' performance.
“They’ve played hard for us for four years,” King said.
“I just wanted to come out and get this game for them
tonight, let them leave with a win.”
Despite dominating the first 30 minutes of action Sat
urday, the Aggies could not maintain the pace. After
amassing a 13-point lead, A&M allowed Nebraska to
come back and take a one-point lead into the final min
utes.
“It could have gone either way right there,” Jack said
about Nebraksa’s comeback. “Its just the way the game
goes.”
Nebraska was led early by senior Larry Florence and
junior Kimani Ffriend with 12 and 11 points respective
ly. Yet sophomore Louis Tmscott and junior Steffon Brad
ford would change the pace and bring the Cornhuskers
right back into the mix. Truscott came off'the bench to
score 14, while Bradford had 20.
With Nebraska in the lead, freshman guard Jamaal
Gilchrist sank a free throw for A&M to tie the game at 70
with one minute remaining. Nebraska would miss on their
opportunity down the court, sacrificing the ball to A&M
for the remainder of the game.
With Gilchrist at the point, the Aggies looked for the
winning shot to close the game. First, Gilchrist looked for
King on the perimeter, then to the big guys inside, back
out to King—still no openings. The freshman was forced
to take things into his own hands, slashing inside yet
falling short of the basket. The Aggies were in overtime.
Gilchrist came through in overtime, converting the
same slashing move inside to open up scoring and give
the Aggies their final lead. The remainder of the team
would step up in the overtime period, hitting 11 of 12 free
throws to seal the win over Nebraska.
“I thought A&M just did a stellar job of hanging in
there. King is a great freshman and they did enough things
right to win the basketball game,” Nebraska men's bas
ketball coach Danny Nee said. "We just couldn’t get in
sync ... but that’s my problem. A&M did a really nice job
of keeping their heads, playing hard and found a way to
win the game.” »
SALLIE TURNER/I HE BATTALION
A&M freshman guard Bernard King looks to
pass the ball against the University of Nebraska.
Softball team places 2nd at Aggie Invitational II
BY BREE HOLZ
The Battalion
The Texas A&M softball team en
tered its final game of the GTE Aggie In
vitational II in second place behind the
University of New Mexico Lobos Sun
day. The Aggies not only had to defeat
the Lobos, but defeat them by three or
more runs. They fell one run short.
The Aggies beat UNM 3-1 in their fi
nal game but lost in their first game on
Saturday, 4-1.
A&M softball coach Jo Evans attrib
uted the Aggies’ only loss of the tourna
ment to poor offense.
“1 didn't like our approach at the plate
at all,” Evans said. “I didn’t think we
were patient or aggressive.”
The Aggies and Lobos finished the
tournament with a 5-1 record, while the
University of Minnesota and the Uni
versity of Mississippi finished at 1-5.
A&M (16-7) began the tournament
on Friday with a 5-0 win over Ole Miss
and a 3-1 victory over Minnesota. Junior
pitcher Amy Vining threw a one-hitter
against Ole Miss and freshman pitcher
Kara Weikel gave up only two hits to
Minnesota.
“I was really pleased with our pitch
ing,” Evans said. “Amy was in a groove,
and our defense didn’t have to make any
tough plays.
“Kara got a good confidence boost in
the second game,” she said. “The thing
she did that she hasn’t done in the past
was she threw her game.”
The Aggies had no problem defeat
ing Minnesota 4-0 in their second game
on Saturday. Junior right fielder Tiffany
Esters hit a two-run double in the fourth
and A&M scored two more runs in the
fifth to win.
On Sunday, Vining took the mound
for the Aggies once again against Ole
Miss and led A&M to a 2-0 win. She
gave up only four hits to move her record
to 11-4.
Esters singled to center field to score
sophomore second baseman Lisa Klam
in the bottom of the fourth inning to put
the Aggies’ first point on the board.
A&M struck again in the fifth when
freshman catcher Selena Collins doubled
to center field to score senior first base-
man Angie Long.
The Aggies jumped to an early lead
See Second on Page 8.
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DESIGNERS
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hat matter to
Intramurals
Registration
Handball
Feb. 28-Mar. 7
Swim Meet
Feb. 28-Mar. 9
• Intramual sports registration
closes at 6:00pm
. on closing
date
Aquatics
Event Date
Registration
Adv. Competitive Diving
Mar
20-23
Mar.
1-16
&
Mar. 27-
30
Adv. Adult Learn to Swim
Mar
20-23
Mar.
1-16
&
Mar. 27-
30
Lifeguard Training Instructor
Apri
1 3-8
Mar.
6-30
Basic SCUBA
Apri
1 3-6
Mar.
6-30
&
April 10-
-13
Job Opportunities
)pens.
mrnalism field,
lerience.
Graphic Layout Assistant—Job Hunting after Spring Break? Start your
search with Rec Sports. Applications available in Room 202. For more
info, call Angela Stanton-Anderson at 845-1001 or visit our homepage.
McDonald,
on.
SPORTS
For Information call 845-7826
or Visit our Homepage recsports.tamu.edu
Check out our flyers for more details on our pro
grams.
Rec Fitness
• ON SALE! March 19—Unlimited Aerobics Passes for $25.
• F.l.T. Fitness Instructor Training—March 21-April 27, Tue. &
Thurs. from 7-8:30pm. Class size is limited to 30. There are
only 4 spaces left.
• FREE! Understanding Your Relationship Partner-Wed., Mar. 8
from 5:30-6:30pm. in room 281. Dr. James Robinson, Professor
and Interim Head of Social and Behavioral Health, will explain
why men and women are so mysterious to each other. Honest,
funny and extremely informative, this lecture will appeal to
everyone. Come early!
• NSCA Exam Review (Session 1/-Sunday, March 26 from
7-9pm. Session I will cover client consultation and program
planning.
Contact DeAun Woosley at 862-3995 for more information.
• Kung Fu—$25 for 5 weeks. March 29-May 1, 6-7pm. Mon. &
Wed. Register from March 6-27.
• Tai Chi—$25 for 5 weeks. March 28-April 27, 7:45-9:00pm.
Tue. & Thurs. Register from March 6-27.
• Swing—March 28-April 13, Tue. & Thurs., from 6:30-7:30pm.
Register now until March 28 at 5pm.
• Massage Therapy—$35 for Rec Members and $45 for non Rec
Members. Appointments can be made at Member Services.
For more information stop by the Member Service Desk in the Rec.
TAMU Outdoors
Event Date
Registration
Rafting Day Trip
March 25
Feb. 28-
Mar. 22
Weekend Canoeing
Mar. 25-26
Feb. 28-
Mar. 22
Intro to Rock Climbing
Mar. 25
Mar. 1-22
Kayak Roll Clinic
Mar. 28
Feb. 28-
Mar. 27
Bouldering/Rock Climbing Trip
Mar. 31-Apr. 2
Feb. 28-
Mar. 28
Women's Fly Fishing
Mar. 31-Apr. 2
Feb. 28-
Mar. 28
Lead Climbing
April 1
Mar. 6-29
Hiking Lost Pines Trail
April 2
Feb. 28-
• Mar. 28
Kayak Workshop
April 1-2
Feb. 28-
Mar. 28
Backpacking Lost Maples
April 7-9
Mar. 6-
April 4
AGGIE PUMPFEST
April 8
Feb. 1 5-
April 8
recsports.tamu.edu