When Cougar Wanted to Run, He Ran to New Mexico State : Basketball: Randy Brown transferred from University of Houston because he wanted to play an up-tempo game.

Randy Brown went to the University of Houston with visions of the Phi Slamma Jamma, run-and-gun Cougars dancing through his head. But by the time his freshman season started, the music had mellowed.

Brown signed with Houston in the spring of 1986, after Pat Foster replaced the retired Guy Lewis as coach, so he knew there would be some changes. But he didn’t expect a total meltdown of the offense.

“I thought it would be fast tempo--that’s why I went there,” said Brown, who played high school basketball in Chicago. “He (Foster) didn’t really tell me things would be changing. I just thought it would be how it was before.”

Brown wasn’t thrilled with Foster’s new patient, half-court offense and minimal pressing defense, but he decided to give it a chance. And in two seasons, the point guard did rather well.

He started 12 of 28 games as a freshman in 1986-87, helping the Cougars to an 18-12 record and an NCAA tournament berth. Brown became a full-time starter his sophomore season, leading the team in assists and steals. Houston went 18-13 and played in the National Invitation Tournament.

But success didn’t bring happiness. At Houston, Brown felt like Jerry Lee Lewis trying to sing a Nat King Cole tune: completely out of place.

So he hit the road, Jack, and drove the fast lane to Las Cruces, home of the New Mexico State Aggies. After a semester at Howard County (Tex.) College, where he took classes but didn’t play basketball, Brown transferred to New Mexico State in the fall of 1989 and has no regrets.

“Houston didn’t play the style I liked--they didn’t run up and down the floor, they didn’t press, they played a half-court game,” said Brown, who is in town for New Mexico State’s game tonight at Cal State Fullerton. “I was looking for something faster. We run a lot here and press for 40 minutes. I got just what I wanted coming here.”

And then some. Brown became an immediate starter and the Aggies’ second-leading scorer, averaging 13.2 points to help New Mexico State to a 26-5 record, a share of the Big West Conference championship with Nevada Las Vegas, and its first NCAA tournament berth in 11 years.

The Aggies were eliminated in the first round by Loyola Marymount, but Brown, who led the team with a school-record 91 steals and was second to Keith Hill with 109 assists, was a first-team all-conference selection at guard.

Brown’s field-goal percentage (.397) is down this season, but the rest of his game has remained sharp. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior is averaging 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.6 steals for the 21st-ranked Aggies (12-1, 4-0 in conference).

“He leads the defense and does a great job distributing the ball,” New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy said. “He can hurt you in a lot of ways--he can get a defensive rebound, an offensive rebound, make a steal, deflect a ball. And he gives the other players confidence, because when the game’s on the line, he seems to do pretty well.”

Indeed, against UC Santa Barbara last week, Brown scored a basket and made three of four free throws in the final two minutes to help the Aggies turn a one-point game into a 64-57 victory. He also made a jumper at the buzzer to give New Mexico State a 71-69 victory over Fresno State last season.

But Brown’s defensive reputation far exceeds his reputation as a clutch offensive performer. He loves playing in-your-face defense, and his ability to make steals earned him a spot on Dick Vitale’s preseason All-Pickpocket Team.

Brown’s steals often result in breakaway slams for him or his teammates, and his defense is also the primary reason The Sporting News lists Brown as one of the top senior prospects for the NBA draft.

“It’s an art,” Brown said of his thievery. “You know where the trap is, where the ball could go, you watch eyes and you anticipate.”

Of course, Brown’s quick hands, quick feet and instincts are better displayed in New Mexico State’s full-court, zone press and its relentless, half-court matchup zone. And when the Aggies go to a man-to-man, Brown is always assigned to the opponent’s best guard.

Brown has all the physical tools, but those aren’t the only reasons he’s an excellent defender. It seems Brown has an innate desire to stop opponents.

“Defense is an attitude because you hate for a guy to score on you,” Brown said. “You take pride in stopping guys. I guess it’s something you’re born with and learn on the playgrounds.”