USIU Is Back, but Tough Opponents Await
U.S. International gets a respite from traveling--but little else--when it opens a five-game home stand against Montana tonight at 7:30 at Golden Hall.
After playing 10 consecutive road games (with a 2-8 record), USIU finally returns home, where it last beat Maryland-Eastern Shore, 112-76, on Nov. 28. But the Gulls won’t find the season’s longest home stand much easier.
There will be games against St. Mary’s (Jan. 4) and high-scoring Loyola Marymount (Jan. 7). But first the Gulls face a big task against Montana.
The Grizzlies (7-4) are led by 6-foot 10-inch, 249-pound center Wayne Tinkle, averaging a team-leading 15.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. K.C. McGowan, a 6-5 guard, is averaging 12.2 points, and 6-6 forward Ossie Young is averaging 10.2.
Montana earlier defeated the University of San Diego, 80-65, at Missoula. The Grizzlies have not played a tough schedule. Other victories were against Montana Tech, Portland State, Simon-Fraser, North Dakota State, Valparaiso and most recently Western Washington (90-63 last Thursday).
The Gulls ended their disappointing trip with a 94-89 victory over Coppin State Dec. 19, breaking a six-game losing streak.
USIU is led by guard Paul Wilson’s 15.5 points per game (on just 38% shooting). Forward Demetrius Laffitte is averaging 14.8 points (on 51% shooting) and a team-leading 9.8 rebounds.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Holy Cross handed U.S. International (2-8) its seventh consecutive loss, 94-84. Holy Cross (4-4) jumped to a 13-point lead, but USIU closed to within 49-42 at halftime. Holy Cross then pulled away again in the second half. Holy Cross’ Kathy Stecco scored a game-high 31 points. Sonya Carter scored 24 points for USIU.
HOLIDAY BOWL
San Dieguito High School senior Michael Knapick has won this year’s Sea World Holiday Bowl R. Hastings Garland Scholarship award of $1,500. Knapick was selected for academics, citizenship, extracurricular activities and athletics. He was selected over 6 finalists chosen from 172 applicants from county high schools.
The scholarship was established in 1984 in memory of R. Hastings Garland Jr., a Holiday Bowl founder and president of the 1982 game.
Knapick, who plays basketball, volleyball and football, was selected over Braulio Casas (Chula Vista High), Jeffrey Collins (Valhalla), Chris Enger (Vista), Joshua Hacker (Bonita Vista) and Lisa Weisman (Torrey Pines).