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Show ^riJack Gardner's new runnin' Redskins wasted little time in giving hints of a winning season as they took nine of their first ten games. Arizona State was the only blotch on the early record, but sweet revenge was for the Utes as Billy McGilPs 43 points ushered the 'Devils into the century club with a 102-89 thrashing in Salt Lake City.Utah was now ready for what experts called the greatest college tourney ever assembled under one roof: the L. A. Classic was Los Angeles' contribition at Christmas in California, and snow couldn't have been more welcome as Ohio State, West Virginia, Southern Cal, Purdue, and UCLA joined the Utes in the Los Angeles arena for the annual Christmas Pageant. Ohio State won it, of course, but the Utes sandwiched sparkling wins over West Virginia and UCLA around their lack-luster loss to USC, and a highly respectable third place was owned by Gardner's men when they returned to the mountains for the less glamorous task of annexing a fourth straight skyline crown.A greater part of the skyline race was decided at Salt Lake City on January 6 and again at Logan a month later. Utah State, the perennial Skyline bridesmaid, once again had to be content with the runner-up bouquet as the Utes bounced them twice: 77-72 in | Salt Lake and 78-76 at Logan. The 1 Utes led by wide margins, but the fired-I up Aggies lived up to the traditional script by coming back in the late stages of both games to leave fans gasping at the finish. The first contest was the most interesting: USU ate up a 13-§ point Utah margin and led by two with I live minutes to go, but a premature stall backfired on the Aggies and the Utes streaked to a five-point win. |