AGGIELIFE THE BATTALION led at the Drive-In,” t. Filled with hair-comb- 1950s classic be-bops, to see, even if you’ve to the songs memorized. Jive” with a theatre full ist leading is an experi- >sed. ise” will be performed it 7:3.0 p.m. in Rudder Tickets can be pur- t the Box Office or by 79) 845-1234. Saw vour inoiH'y ami Ktav at I or the following week each Wednesday, and ine for entries is noon esday. The Battalion the right to edit for id cost is free. Sports The Battalion Page 5 • Wednesday, February 12, Big 12 picture gets clearer as season unfolds kggies among teams in middle tier of conference There are few certainties in this world, such as how the Big 12 Conference basketball stand ings will look once all the cards areonthe table on March 8, after nal horn blows for regular- season play. is certain, however, that this season's play has seen the Big 12 s separated into three dis- groups: the dominant, the average and the mediocre. The top tier of the conference is made up of No. 13 Oklahoma Slate (7-1 Big 12), No. 5 llahoma (7-2), No. 6 Texas 1-2), and No. 9 Kansas (7-1). Finding themselves in the niddle of the pack are No. 21 Missouri (5-3), Colorado (4- 4), A&M (3-5) and Texas Tech (3-5). And the three teams stuck in the Big 12 cellar are Iowa State (2-6), Baylor (1-7) and Nebraska (1-7). While anything is possible within the three tiers, here is how the Big 12 should finish going down the home stretch. I. OKLAHOMA STATE File Cowboys (18-3, 7-1) have been drastically underrated this season and should finish strong with a big win at home against Texas. OSU will have a tough contest in Norman against the Sooners in a game that could determine the Big 12 title. 2. OKLAHOMA The Sooners (16-4, 7-2) fell in their first matchup with OSU in Stillwater and must win their second game in Norman to have a chance at the Big 12 Championship. OU’s final game of the year is against Texas, a team that knocked off the Sooners earlier this past week. 3. KANSAS Their Big 12 loss on the road to Colorado will end up costing the Jayhawks (17-5, 7-1) a shot at the Big 12 title, but they will remain a favorite come time for the Final Four in New Orleans. 4. TEXAS If Texas can come away with wins on the road against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, then the Longhorns (16-4, 7-2) will win the Big 12 outright; but, don’t count on that happening. Neither OU nor OSU has lost a home game this year, and the Sooners have won 33 straight in Norman. 5. MISSOURI Missouri has a fairly easy fin ish having already played Texas. The Tigers (14-5, 5-3) will finish the season with a big win over Kansas at home. Their first match up was a close one in Lawrence, Kan., but this time, the Jayhawks will travel. 6. COLORADO The Buffaloes (14-7, 4-4), have been dominating at home this season with home wins over Texas and Kansas, which have been key for this up-and-coming team. Watch out next year. If it learns to win on the road, Colorado could break into the top pack in the 2003-04 season. 7. TEXAS A&M A&M will have its biggest game of the year tonight at Reed Arena against Missouri. In order to finish above .500 for the first time in nine years, the Aggies (11-8, 3-5) must win three of their final eight games. With tough outings coming up on the road against Texas Tech and Kansas, home games are must wins for the Aggies. See Big 12 on page 7 AL1SSA HOLL1MON • THE BATTALION Texas center Jason Klotz fights for a rebound against the Aggies. The Longhorns are among the elite teams in the Big 12 Conference. i for using the rapper of his lyrics. Def Jam label, which His 2001 album "Word he song "Move Bitch," its. 5ns threatened a boy- s subsidiaries to begin the company ran the 5 million to Ludacris’ cation the ad would be ! air. Neither Pepsi or rk would comment on Late heroics lift A&M in season opener By Pete Burks THE BATTALION RANDAL FORD • THE BATTALION fas A&M shortstop Scott Beerer tags A&M Corpus Christi’s Jaime Landin at Tuesday’s season opener. When one thinks of the powerhouse teams that rule the kingdom of college baseball, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi doesn’t typically come to mind. However, the Islanders (1-1 overall) began their season as if they were an elite team, pounding the defending national champion University of Texas, 5-0 in Austin. Needless to say, the Islanders came in with every intention of ruining the Aggies’ opening day game, and it took a game-winning home run and a little Olsen Magic to keep them from doing so. The Islanders quickly jumped out to to a 2- 0 lead in the top of the second thanks to their tough hitting against junior Aggie pitcher Brian Finch coupled with an untimely error by senior Aggie third baseman, Tim Petru. A&M Head Coach Mark Johnson was frustrated by his team’s slow start. “They threw a lot of offspeed pitches, which is really tough to face early in the season,” he said. “We didn’t do a good job with runners on and less than two out.” In the bottom of the fourth, the Aggies final ly awoke from their slumber, erupting for three runs of their own against A&M-Corpus Christi starter, Jim Hammon, who led the shutout against Texas in the Islanders’ first game. Junior right fielder Cory Patton led the A&M barrage by launching a moonshot over the right field fence, nearly hitting the train tracks behind Olsen Field. While the run surge kept the game close in See Opener on page 7 V LE! RY14 M ty Dr. The >) fURNS Saturday, February 22 @ 10:00 a.m Registration: Early Feb. 3-18 I _j -f O’! Late Feb. 19-21 Race day $10/$12 $13/15* $20 all *non-member cost. Registration forms on-line or at the Student Rec Center. 5K run and 1 mile walk through the A&M campus and the hills of Kyle Field. ^ AjmEV mports.tamu.eilu SPORTS fJtl MSC Film Society's Afifiie Cinema •„ 'WW\- Presents: ?:30pm & 10:00pm in the Theater Only $1 with wristband In the basement jg||gg|mwk |m ig|| 9pm till 1am Free Bowling mmmm ng for $25 must be present to win Z7W V de a/