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Wednesday, February 7, ?001
SPORTS
THE BATTALION
Page 3B
Olajuwon
Center will not seek
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets
center Hakeem Olajuwon said Tuesday he
will not seek a trade or his outright release
from his contract, which runs through this
season and pays him $ 16.5 million.
Olajuwon earlier had asked the Rockets to
either trade him or give him a release so he
could play the rest of the season with anoth
er team, possibly the Miami Heat.
“I am fully committed to the Rockets, to
my teammates, to the fans and to the goal of
trying to make the NBA playoffs this sea-
staying with Rockets until end of contract
trade or contract release because of duty to Houston fans, he wants to make playoffs
son,” Olajuwon told the Houston Chronicle
in a story posted on the newspaper’s Website
Tuesday. “The city of Houston, the fans, the
Rockets’ organization have all been so sup
portive of me throughout my career.
“I owe this to them. This is the way it
should be. 1 am happy. I am excited about
what is possible for the team in the coming
months. 1 am content.”
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander was
pleased with Olajuwon’s decision
“I always knew Hakeem would do the right
(6
I am exdited about
what is possible for the
team in the coming
months.”
Hakeem Olajuwon
Rockets' center
thing,” Alexander told Houston television sta
tion KR1V. “He has throughout his whole ca
reer and it’s great he’s going to be playing out
the year with the Rockets and hopefully we’ll
get a shot at making the playoffs.
“I think it’s a great uplift, the win last night
and Hakeem’s statements. Both put a real
charge in the organization,” he said.
Olajuwon was quoted last week in two
Florida newspapers as saying he wanted to
play for the Heat and specifically for coach
Pat Riley. Olajuwon had been frustrated with
his lack of playing time and his role in the
Rockets this season.
Olajuwon played a key role with 18 points
and nine rebounds in Monday night’s 100-86
victory over the New York Knicks.
“That is the way I have always thought
this team could play this season,” Olajuwon
said. “Take advantage of what I can still do.
I am not talking about being the focus, about
playing 40 or 45 minutes in a game. But I be
lieve I can contribute.
“That is why I said before the season start
ed that this team had the potential to make the
playoffs. I still think we can.”
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—Sports in Brief—
Men’s tennis
loses to Texas
The No. 17 University of
Texas upended the No. 6 Texas
A&M men’s tennis team 4-2 at
the inaugural Texas Cup in
Houston Tuesday.
UT won the doubles point by
winning two of the three dou
bles matches, including a win
over the All-American tandem of
seniors Dumitru Caradima and
Shuon Madden.
Madden, the Intercollegiate
Tennis Association Player to
Watch, also lost his singles
match.
A&M’s lone victory in dou
bles play was posted by the duo
of senior Cody Hubbell and ju
nior Jarin Skube.
The two Aggie singles victo
ries were courtesy of Hubbell
and freshman Nathan Price.
The Aggies return to action
Saturday when they host
Louisiana State at 1:30 p.m.
Basketball
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Continued from Page 1
Baylor shot only 34.6 percent in
the first half and reached its game
average for turnovers in the first
half with 14.
A&M translated the turnovers
into easy baskets at the other end as
the Aggies scored 28 of their 36
first-half points in the paint.
Butte rims led the way, matching
his career high in points by the half
with eight. He also pulled down
a
There's no doubt
that the first half
dictated the game.
We certainly respect
ed Texas A&M com
ing in. We know they
probably played the
most dangerous
schedule in the Big
12 because they
played a lot of the
top teams already.”
— Dave Bliss
Baylor coach
-ecord ^
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v/casedtl* the half. He finished with seven re-
■ Mun#'bounds in the game.
3nfer#| “There’s no doubt that the first
i the half dictated the game,” said Bay-
! lor men’s basketball coach Dave
le of pi 1 ! [Bliss. “We certainly respected
Texas A&M coming in. We know
hey probably played the most dan-
erous schedule in the Big 12 be-
ause they played a lot of the top
earns already.
“There wasn’t any overlooking
f what they have. They have good
layers, but I thought we con-
ributed to our own problems. It was
bvious we didn’t have our ‘A’
ame in the first half.”
The Bears brought their ‘A’ game
n the second half, starting the half
m a 14-4 run to cut the A&M lead
to40-37 with 13:29 left in the game.
The Aggies fought back behind
he play of Anderson. Keeping the
Hears at bay, A&M never allowed
Baylor to pull any closer than three
oints the rest of the way.
Anderson scored 12 of his 14
oints in the second half on 6-of-10
^hooting.
Black led the Bears, posting a
Rouble-double with 21 points and
rebounds. Davis also' had a dou-
Rle-double with 15 points and 12 re-
ounds.
“We expected to win,” Anderson
aid. “Their non-conference record
•ms good, but when it comes to con
ference, it’s not that good. So we ex
acted to wiri.”
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