Cougars on Tear, Take On Fresno

The Azusa Pacific University men’s basketball team struggled to a 2-14 record in the non-conference season but has been on a tear since the start of Golden State Athletic Conference play.

The Cougars, who have improved to 9-14 (including one non-conference victory), are tied for first with Cal Lutheran in the GSAC at 6-1 heading into Azusa Pacific’s game against Fresno Pacific at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Fresno. The Sunbirds entered the week at 2-4 in the GSAC and 3-16 overall.

Azusa Pacific has been led by 6-8 senior center Bill DesRochers, who became only the second player in school history to surpass the 2,100-point scoring plateau with 21 in a 69-66 win over Westmont last week. DesRochers, who has 2,101 points, needs 99 to pass all-time leader Dennis Dickens. He has also started in 112 consecutive games over the last four years.

DesRochers is averaging 24.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in conference play.

But perhaps the biggest factor in Azusa Pacific’s surge has been the improvement of 6-10 reserve center Jon Hilbig, who was averaging only 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in non-conference play but has averaged 12 points and 9.2 rebounds in the GSAC.

Hilbig had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots--his best performance of the season--against Westmont. Since the start of conference play, he has made 29 of 32 field-goal attempts--an outstanding 90.6%

The win against Westmont was also Azusa Pacific’s first over the Warriors since 1979 and the team’s first victory on the Santa Barbara campus.

The Cougars figure to be favored against struggling Fresno Pacific. Fresno’s best players are 6-6 junior center Brian Falls, who averages 21.6 points in conference play, and 6-1 junior guard Rich Young, who averages 5.8 assists.

The struggling Cal State Los Angeles women’s basketball team, which has lost its first four California Collegiate Athletic Assn. games, will play slumping Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:30 tonight at Cal State L. A.

Dominguez Hills also enters the game at 0-4 in the conference and 7-12 overall. Cal State L. A. is 8-9 overall.

It will be the fifth consecutive road game for Dominguez Hills, which suffered a 76-50 loss to conference-leading Cal Poly Pomona last week. Dominguez Hills has been led by 5-6 senior guard Angel Wells, who averages 10.9 points, and 6-2 junior center Kathy Goggin, who averages 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Despite its problems, Cal State L. A. has received strong play from a front line led by center Lupe Quintana. The 6-0 junior is averaging 15.6 points and a conference-leading 11.6 rebounds. Two other standouts for the Golden Eagles are forwards Sue Doody (5-10), who a1986359905(6-0), who averages 12.2.

The Golden Eagles should receive a stronger test at Chapman at 5:45 p.m. Saturday in Orange. Chapman is 2-3 in the CCAA and 11-7 overall. The Panthers are led by guard Karan Polk, who averages 16.1 points and 6.1 assists.

Cal State Los Angeles will try to snap a nine-game losing streak in men’s basketball when it visits Cal State Dominguez Hills in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game at 7:30 tonight.

The Golden Eagles are 2-14 overall and 0-5 in the CCAA in Coach Henry Dyer’s first season. Dominguez Hills is 1-4 in conference and 7-10 overall.

Cal State L. A. has been led by 6-3 senior guard Howard Loughridge, who averages 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Other leaders for the Golden Eagles are forwards Rhodney Moore (6-4) and Daniel Liese (6-3).

The Golden Eagles visit Chapman in a CCAA game at 8:05 p.m. Saturday. Chapman is 2-2 in the CCAA and 11-6 overall.

Many of the top amateur boxers in the West will compete in the U. S. Amateur Boxing Federation’s Southern California District Championships from Friday through Sunday at Azusa Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.

The card starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Among the top boxers are Azusa’s Johnny Chavez in the 132-pound division and Jerry Moran at 178. Chavez, the 1987 district and regional champion, is ranked No. 8 in the nation.

Several other top fighters are Troy Bodine of Los Angeles, ranked No. 3 in the nation in the heavyweight division; Jose Arreola of East Los Angeles, No. 2 at 112 pounds, and Eddie Hernandez of Coachella, No. 6 at 139 pounds.

Top finishers will advance to the regionals in March at the Azusa hall, 250 1st St.

Monrovia High School will honor its 1988 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees during half time of the Monrovia-Temple City boys basketball game at 8 p.m. Friday in Monrovia. The inductees are Shavon Dennis, Obie Graves, Levi Harris, Jan Ionescu, Wayne Nunnely, Very Murray and Claude Walker.