USIU Signs Three More

U.S. International announced Thursday that three players have signed national letters of intent to play basketball for Gulls Coach Gary Zarecky next year.

Uzoma Obiekea, Steve Whitehead and O.J. Bonner join Monte Vista’s Jeff Polinsky, Marc Tuite and Derek Izilein, who earlier made commitments to USIU.

Nigeria native Obiekea, a 6-foot-7 1/2 forward, led Marymount College of Salinas, Kansas, to the NAIA regional semifinals his freshman year, averaging 15 points and 13 rebounds a game. He transferred to El Camino College in Torrance for a year, but didn’t play basketball.

Whitehead, a graduate of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, averaged 19 points his senior year, then enrolled at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts for one year, where he shot 60% from three-point range. Whitehead, a 6-4 guard, was recruited by Texas El Paso, Santa Clara and Fresno State.

Bonner, of Fort Wayne, Ind., led Merced Junior College to California’s junior college final four. The 6-7 forward averaged 11 points and seven rebounds for Merced. He is a graduate of South Side High in Fort Wayne, where averaged 13 points and 15 rebounds.

MEN’S TENNIS

UC San Diego, ranked No. 5 in the nation in Div. III, edged Div. I Loyola Marymount, 5-4. No. 6 singles player, Jeff Beathard, beat Jayvee Regala, 7-6, 6-4. In No. 3 doubles, Beathard and Tim Ditzler defeated Tony Tsunada and Brian Maher, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. UCSD improved to 11-8.

BASEBALL

Point Loma Nazarene College made a season-high seven errors and lost to host Azusa Pacific, 17-2, in a Golden State Conference game. PLNC fell to 14-23-1 and 1-9.