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Show BASKETBALL For the second year in a row, the Run-nin' Redskins came within one game of the Western Athletic Conference Championship, and again the fatal contest turned out to be the last of the regular season. Utah dropped that game last year by one point to the University of Texas at El Paso on the Miners court, giving them the WAC crown. This season the spoiler was Brigham Young University, who also had the championship to gain by beating the Utes. The Redskins' luck (or whatever) ran in streaks through the first 12 games of the season. They lost their first three contests, won their next five, then dropped four more in a row. But after that, Utah settled down somewhat to capture 10 of 14 decisions and end up with a 15-11 season mark. Having been picked to win the conference championship in pre-season guessing, the Redskins looked anything but impressive in their first three losses to Southern California (90-81), Utah State (94-77) and Oregon State (91-75). The Utes finally found the victory trial in the fourth game of the year against Northern Michigan. Utah took a 102-94 decision in a warm-up for the Utah Classic Tournament. The Redskins won their own tournament easily, crushing New York University, 102-67, and downing Washington, 89-78. After disposing of North Carolina, 105-86, Utah left home to participate in the Quaker City Classic Tournament in Philadelphia, an eight-team affair with each team playing three games. The Utes won part one by defeating Army, 65-56, but dropped the second match to hometown favorite and, at that time, fourth ranked Pennsylvania, 86-78. Utah was held to one win in the tournament by losing a squeaker to St. Josephs', 74-72. 210 |