1/4/1949

Arizona Cagers Defeat Hardin-Simmons, 50-43

CATS TRIUMPH IN FIRST BC START; BLEVINS HIGH

By BILL LUCAS

The Arizona Wildcats started their quest for a fourth straight undisputed Border conference championship last night before 3,200 fans as they opened their BC campaign here with' a 50-43 decision over the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys. The Ranchers move on to Tempe today to face the Sun Devils there tonight. The Arizona frosh, who last night downed the Camp Pendleton Marines from Oceanside, Calif., 76-43, will face the Tempe yearlings in the preliminary game.

The UA varsity victory, coupled with Texas Mines’ 57-53 upset triumph over Texas Tech last night at El Paso, now leaves Arizona and New Mexico university, sporting 1-0 BC records, as the only unbeaten clubs in the loop. New Mexico and Arizona will clash here Wednesday night in the Cats’ next engagement.

A game scheduled for last night at Albuquerque between New Mexico and West Texas State was halted by a power shortage.

Pacing the Cats was Forward Leon Blevins with 15 points followed by Center Joe Cherry with nine. Cherry, who scored four field goals in the last 10 minutes of the first half helped Fred Enke's charges move away to a half-time 34-18 lead.

Crum Ejected
Cherry entered the game for Center Junior Crum and replaced him again after seven minutes of play in the second half when the latter was ejected on five personal fouls. Cherry, a member of last year's squad, rejoined the Arizona cage team this week after being out earlier in the season due to pressure of premedical studies.

High man for the visitors was Guard Julius (Slats) Stagner who accounted for 13 points. Guard Glen Burroughs followed with 10, all caged in the second half.

Arizona had trouble getting started in the second half but once under way took a 42-28 lead with 10 minutes remaining. Hardin-Simmons sliced the advantage to 42-35 with 6 minutes and 20 seconds to play.

Wildcat supporters, recalling that the majority of Arizona games on the Christmas holiday trek were lost in the last eight or five minutes, took alarm as the Cowboys further cut the Cat lead, to 44-39 with less than five to go.

Freeze The Ball
A one-handed toss by Blevins followed by two more Cat field goals, however, all but put the game on ice at 50-41. Burroughs counted for the Cowboys but Arizona managed to freeze the ball for the last minute and a half.

It was the first Border defeat for the invaders who had previously downed Tempe and Flagstaff who came to Tucson with a 2-0 record against Border opponents.

The Cats looked good in spots but were a bit on the spasmodic side.