Tuesday, February 17, 1998

TCU takes WAC
Pacific Division

Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Even with its worst offensive performance of the season, No. 19 Texas Christian was able to hold off Southern Methodist to clinch the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific Division.

"It was kind of a scary game," coach Billy Tubbs said after the Horned Frogs' 79-70 victory over the Mustangs last night. "We didn't win by 40 and we didn't score 120. We don't get excited unless we get our numbers."

Mike Jones scored 24 points, and Malcolm Johnson added 21 for TCU (23-4, 12-0 WAC), which secured a first-round bye in the WAC tournament.

Poor shooting by the Horned Frogs kept SMU within striking range. But the Mustangs (16-8, 5-7 WAC) couldn't capitalize.

Southern Methodist, which trailed 39-36 at halftime, started the second half with 2-for-9 shooting. TCU ran off a 12-4 run, capped by Lee Nailon's basket and free throw, to make it 51-40.

Nailon finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

No. 4 Kansas 81, Colorado 72: At Boulder, Colo., Eric Chenowith had 15 points as the Jayhawks (28-3, 12-1 Big 12) clinched a tie for the Big 12 title with a victory over the Buffaloes (12-11, 6-7).

No. 11 New Mexico 75, UNLV 66: At Las Vegas, Nev., Kenny Thomas scored 16 points and Clayton Shields and Lamont Long each had 15 as the Lobos (20-3, 10-1 WAC) beat the Runnin' Rebels (13-10, 4-6).

No. 20 West Virginia 71, Marshall 58: At Charleston, W.Va., Greg Jones scored 24 points as the Mountaineers (21-5) beat the Thundering Herd (10-12).

No. 21 Syracuse 69, Villanova 64: At Philadelphia, Ryan Blackwell had a career-high 23 points as the Orangemen (20-5, 9-4 Big East) beat the Wildcats (10-14, 7-8).

Xavier 96, No. 24 George Washington 86: At Cincinnati, Gary Lumpkin scored a career-high 31 points as the Musketeers (17-6, 9-4 Atlantic 10) rallied to beat the Colonials (20-6, 9-4).

Alaska Anchorage 97, Hawaii-Hilo 79: At Anchorage, Ala., Burt Wallace scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Seawolves (15-9, 6-3 Pac West) beat the Vulcans (9-15, 3-7).

Hawaii-Hilo: Claytor 1-4 0-0 2, Ellis 10-17 2-2 25, Jenkins 5-13 11-13 21, Thomas 5-6 5-5 15, Torres 3-5 0-0 7, Carvalho 0-3 2-2 2, Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 2-2 2, Padovan 0-2 1-3 1, Yule 2-3 0-0 4, Grace 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 23-27 79.

Alaska Anchorage: Hamey 5-11 6-6 17, Wallace 8-13 6-6 25, Reid 7-16 3-3 17, Larrabee 2-4 0-0 5, Hajdukovich 7-8 3-3 18, Anderson 0-4 2-3 2, Webber 2-9 0-1 0, Dinkins 0-1 0-2 0, Howard 1-3 0-0 2, Greene 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 34-74 22-26 97.

Halftime--Alaska Anchorage 45, Hawaii-Hilo 34. 3-point goals--UHH 4-10 (Ellis 3-4, Torres 1-2, Jenkins 0-1, Padovan 0-1, Carvalho 0-2), UAA 7-20 (Wallace 3-7, Hajdukovich 1-2, Hamey 1-2, Larrabee 1-2, Webber 1-5, Anderson 0-2). Total fouls--UHH 23, UAA 22. Fouled out--Thomas, Reid, Hajdukovich, Greene. Rebounds--UHH 27 (Ellis 9), UAA 44 (Wallace 17). Assists--UHH 12 (Carvalho 3), UAA 20 (Larrabee 7). Steals--UHH 5 (Jenkins 3), UAA 7 (Hajdukovich 3). Blocked shots--UHH 5 (Ellis 2), UAA 2 (Reid 2). Turnovers--UHH 16, UAA 12. A--980.

PWC standings

			Conference	Overall
			W	L	Pct.	W	L	Pct.
Montana State-Billings 	5	2	.714	18	5	.783
Alaska Anchorage 	6	3	.667	15	9	.625
Seattle Pacific  	5	3	.625	14	9	.609
Alaska Fairbanks 	6	4	.600	11	13	.458
Chaminade	   	3	6	.333	9	13	.409
Western New Mexico 	3	6	.333	7	15	.318
Hawaii-Hilo 	 	3	7	.300	9	15	.375

Yesterday's results

Alaska Anchorage 97, Hawaii-Hilo 79