ACU men, women open seasons Friday

By BILL HART / Senior Staff Writer

Abilene Christian University officially opens its men's basketball season Friday against Adams State in the second game of the ACU Tipoff Classic.

The Wildcats put on a shooting exhibition in a 100-49 exhibition win over Bulgaria last Saturday night, sinking 40 of 67 field goals, including 13 of 24 from 3-point range.

ACU posted a 102-70 win over Adams State last year thanks to a 25-point, 10-rebound performance by Broderick Bobb. But the Grizzlies return all five starters, plus three transfers who were brought in bolster the team.

"Adams State beat Peterson Air Force Base convincingly in its exhibition game," said new ACU coach Shanon Hays. "Looking at the shot charts, they did a good job of getting the ball inside.

"We shot real well against the Bulgarians, and what impressed me was the next night, they beat Mary Hardin-Baylor by 16 points. But we must improve our defense and limit our turnovers."

Hays plans to start the same five that started against the Bulgarians. Four of them - Bobb, forward Jason Millwee and guards Kevin Starks and Chas Jackson started last year against Adams State. The only newcomer is forward Lawerence Gardiner, who scored a game-high 21 points in the exibition.

On Saturday, ACU faces Western New Mexico Western and 7-6 Andy Charlton.

Angelo State faces WNMU tonight in the first game. Guard Tony Avezzano, son of the Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe Avezzano, and Brian Kusnierz are the only starters back from ASU's 6-19 club last year. One of the Rams' new players is former Sweetwater and ACU cager Corey Edwards. Another is former Cisco Junior College player Jeff Peters.

-- Where: Moody Coliseum

--Today's schedule: Angelo State vs. Western New Mexico, 6 p.m.; Adams State vs. ACU, 8 p.m.

-- Saturday's schedule: Angelo State vs. Adams State, 6 p.m.; Western New Mexico vs. ACU, 8 p.m.

-- Records: All teams are 0-0

vs. Pittsburg State

-- Where: Lion Coliseum, Wichita Falls.

-- When: 6 p.m.

-- Records: Both 0-0.

--The Matchup: These two teams met last year in Abilene, and Abilene Christian won, 88-87, almost blowing a 54-40 halftime lead. Both teams then qualified for the NCAA Division II national tournament in Fargo, N.D., but did not face each other. Cheree Monden scored 24 points in the win over the Lady Gorillas and Caroline Omamo had 10. Both are back along with Aukse Steponaviciute (4 points), Jennifer Havard (9) and Barbara Pyle (7). Pittsburg State returns Jenni Miller, who had 15 points against ACU, Jessica Abele, who had eight points and Megan Reid, who scored nine. Kelly Hennes had five. Among its newcomers is 6-4 Melanie Stueve. Saturday, ACU faces Northeastern State, located at Tahlequah, Okla., which posted a 9-21 record last year and returns one starter, guard Amy Restine who averaged 5.1 points and four assists. Five transfers bolster the Lady Reds, including three from St. Gregory's College. The tallest player is 6-0 freshman Rekeisha Williams. Monden, Omamo and Steponaviciute started every game in ACU's 31-2 season last year, and Pyle started two. Midwestern State faces Northeastern tonight and Pittsburg State Saturday in the other games of the doubleheader.