SPORTS THE BATTALION Page 7 Ags post solid victory over Jaguars of the Earth’s plant am :ent of its land surfaca. ise rich habitats. Human -sprawling ecosystems rc Mountains and Coasta Kenya and Tanzania :ar/lndian Ocean Islantls ahats and Sn Lanka rtral China 1 GUY ROQERS/Tiik Battalion freshman guard Bernard King eludes a University of Nebraska jefender in the Aggies 83-76 win over the Cornhuskers. Aggies upbeat about chances in tourney t Australia md Micronesia pumps it oi’the driver’s window selects the preferred M .■ns the gas tank’s door and nd begins fueling, ned wan Wednesday. BY JASON LINCOLN The Battalion In a season that has gone from the lighest high — defeating No. 12 Okla homa State University — to the lowest — being defeated twice by Baylor University — the Texas A&M men’s basketball team has a chance for a posi- ive conclusion. Thursday night the 1 Oth-seeded Ag gies (8-19,4-12 Big 12) take on the 7th- seeded University of Colorado Buf faloes (17-12, 7-9 Big 12) in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tourna ment. The Aggies will be aiming for their irst-ever Big 12 Tournament win at 6:45 .m. in Kansas City. Despite struggling through confer ence action, the Aggies are positive is to w ork. A soft, suction- about their chances in Kansas City. A&M defeated the Buffaloes 74-69 atReedArenaearlier this season and are eoming off a 83-76 overtime win over tnai! engineer who has The University of Nebraska on Saturday, not trust the SmartPum, The previous win against Colorado, combined with the upbeat performance in the last game of the regular season, makes the Aggies a dangerous threat in the first round. “We expect a tough game,” A&M men’s basketball coach Melvin Watkins said. “We got a good look at Colorado earlier this year. They got us down by 10 in the second half and we had to fight back to win, so we know what they are capable of doing.” A&M will continue to look to fresh man guard Bernard King to set the Ag gies’ pace in Kansas City. King, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, is coming off a 30-point, 10-re bound game versus Nebraska and had 34 points in the Feb. 12 win over Colorado. “Fle’s found a way to get it done,” A&M senior forward Aaron Jack said. “He’s stepped up big.” The Aggies have improved on other areas of the court since the last meeting See Big 12 cm Page 8. BY AL LAZARUS The Battalion It almost seemed inevitable the 13th- ranked Texas A&M men’s tennis team would experience a letdown after de feating No. 4 University of Florida on Sunday. The Aggies did not have that luxury Wednesday night at the Varsity Tennis Center. Facing a worthy opponent in 33rd- ranked University of South Alabama, A&M dropped the doubles point hut stormed back in singles to grab a 5-2 victory over the Jaguars. “South Alabama is a good team, but we knew that coming in,” A&M men’s tennis coach Tim Cass said. “I'm very pleased with our effort tonight, espe cially after beating Florida on Sunday.” After a shaky start in doubles found them trailing, 1-0, the Aggies promptly responded by winning five of six first sets in singles play. Four of those matches would turn into straight-set victories, while one went to three sets before an Aggie vic tory. Eighth-ranked A&M junior Shuon Madden rolled over the Jaguars’ Julien Raynal at No. 1 singles, 6-1,6-0. In the No. 5 slot, A&M freshman Ryan Newport also won easily, 6-1,6-3, over Kosta Zinchanka. The Aggies stretched their lead min utes later when junior Cody Hubbell put the finishing touches on a 6-4, 6-4 win over the Jaguars’ Vince Baudat, who is ranked No. 72. Leading 3-1, the Aggies had to work hard for the decisive fourth point. Flaying at No. 4, junior Dumitru Caradima would provide it with a hard- fought, 7-5, 7-6 (10), victory over South Alabama’s Zak Lahmar. Before Caradima’s victory, the match was up in the air with South Al abama needing just two more points thanks to a victory at No. 6 singles. But Caradima fought off two set points to seal the A&M victory. “We’re thankful to get out of this match alive,” Hubbell said. “Coming off a really big win, we told ourselves not to let up.” Sophomore Keith From gave the Ag gies their fifth point with a 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4, victory over the Jaguars’ Christian Thall. The 12th-ranked duo of Caradima and Madden was victorious at No. I doubles, 8-3, over South Alabama’s Lahmar and Paul Mclnemey. SALUE TURNER/The Battalion A&M sophomore Keith From hits a forehand in his match against the University of South Alabama’s Christian Thall. Women’s tennis team falls to No. 2 Lady Bulldogs PATRIC SCHNEIDER/Tm: Battalion A&M freshman Olivia Karlikova lunges for a ball during Wednesday’s match against Georgia. BY BLAINE DIONNE The Battalion The No. 2 University of Geor gia Bulldogs handed the No. 38 Texas A&M women’s tennis team a 9-0 defeat at the Varsity Tennis Center Wednesday. The Aggies won one set — not a match — a set, against an ab solutely dominating performance by the Bulldogs. Junior Eva Marcial said the team was not at its best during the match. “Not good,” she said. “We competed well, but what do you expect when you play a really good team like that.” The lone set the Aggies took came in the first set of Cassie Haas’ match against Georgia’s Marissa Catlin, when Haas was able to pull out a 7-5 win. After that, however, it was re ally just a matter of the Dawgs fin ishing their matches. A&M women’s tennis coach Bobby Kleinecke gave the Bull dogs credit where credit is due. “That’s the best team we’ll play against this year,” Kleinecke said. “We came out and we fought hard tonight and we competed hard at every position and that’s what we came out here to do.” The road doesn’t get any easi er for the Aggies this weekend, when they will try to build on their 2-0 Big 12 record by taking a two day jaunt through Oklahoma by way of Norman and Stillwater. Kleinecke was reservedly op timistic about his team’s chances over the weekend. “Oklahoma always comes out of the wood work and plays us well,” Kleinecke said. “So we’ll have to be ready for that match. Oklahoma State is a lot better than they were last year, so nothing is’' going to be easy.” nna scratch this baby,| ain't gonna i baby." — Rob Krakora 1 engineer, SUV owner! sport utility vehicle, soft, flexible extensions cratches unlikely. Sevi ing Exxon Mobil, are ex- ait versions of robotf y when the technology her cities. s that now average bet-r across the country.he: er fill-up would makel man for the Society'of rketers of America, said ally become as popular that allow drivers to r o z e n D n k TEXAS’ ORIGINAL DRIVE-THRU DAIQUIRI FACTORY NEW AND IMPROVED IGLOO’S DOUBLE QUICK 4501 Wellborn Rd. £ / 846-2237 3 U 0 For a small Igloo For a small Igloo celebrating with IGLOO'S FROZEN DRINK SALE Thursday. March 9. noon - midnight FROZEN COOLERS Strawberry Daiquiri Peach Daiquiri Raspberry Banana Grape Cherry Watermelon Lemon Screwdriver PEACHBERRY -FLAVORS- Pina Colada Strawberry Colada Peach Colada Raspberry Colada Banana Colada Grape Colada Fuzzy Navel Margarita Strawberry Margarita Hurricane Blue Hawaiian AH drinks made with real fruit or fruit juices. AH creme flavors made with real Vanilla Ice Cream Tropical Punch Mai Tai Strawberries Creme Pina Colada & Creme Peaches & Creme Raspberry & Creme Bananas & Creme Orange & Creme Purple Passion Sex on the Beach SMALL (1 2 oz) .SO<£ MEDIUM (20 oz) $2.50 + tax ENJOY IN MODERATION Don’t Drive ^XTiile large (32 oz) $4.So PHOTOS IN ABOUT AN HOUR You drink. You drive. You get pulled over. You get arrested. You get fingerprinted. You get photographed. You go to jail. And that's if you're lucky enough not to have killed someone first. Drink, Drive, Save a Life Texas Department of Transportation A ■V .1