Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1$ tAROLItI Tom Riker "WDESA YO COM TO .4 The Russell Hos4aeei il e"aaLo ning Feruay 2 Beausewe'l b sevin dine fift pe, bt yo wo't ind.It' a mallprie5, chunk o Italy maa i. a o amu Riker 's ho wrecks Fo By GARY WEST Sports Writer CHICAGO-Carolina's highly touted Gamecocks, sputtering in the first half against St. Bonaventure and Niagara before rallying in the second half, were not so fortunate against Iowa and fell 92-86, largely due to the hot shooting of Rick Williams. For many teams a mid season slump would be in order, but not for the McGuire-led Gamecocks, who reached back and found just the thing it needed in the form of a 6-10 giant named Tom Riker. The Gamecocks were pitted against a pesky Fordham team who had slapped a 100-90 defeat on them in their last confrontation, a year ago. The place was Madison Square Garden in New York, where McGuire is more popular than Mayor Lindsay himself. Riker, like several of his New York oriented teammates, was back in town for a homecoming. What a homecoming he had, firing in 19 of 21 shots with a perfect slate In the second half, connecting on all 10 shots from the field. After the final seconds had ticked off the clock, the senior southpaw had totaled 42 points, a career high, and nothing short of awesome. The big guy from Hicksville, N.Y., who spurned hundreds of schools to come down South to play for the only coach to win 100 games at three different schools, had once again proven his credentials. Youn strenj this season. We young team, we seniors, and w starting three fr( "Eddie Ford w at shortstop. We' him in competiti, "Hank Small v to replace Budd) season. He has a I e's" Wednesday eve tallan-style. A dollar p ay for such a big mecoming rdham Riker, who admits to being loose both off and on the court, didn't learn to play basketball overnight, as he began as a youngster. "I started playing basketball in the first grade, but my 8th grade coach, John Dooley, had the greatest influence on me. He helped develop my game and taught me to shoot with both hands." One reason for the recent brilliance of Riker's play may be the adjustment he has made in moving from the pivot, which he played most of the time the last two years, to the wing position. "It was kind of hard at first adjusting to playing on the wing, but I've been shooting well from the outside lately." And when the pro draft starts, you can be sure that Riker will be a high draft choice, probably in the first round. As Marquette's Jim Chones said earlier in the year, "Riker will make a good pro with his size and the type physical game that he plays." McGuire also agrees that his big senior will make a fine pro. "Tommy is probably one of the best pro prospects in the country." With his last two performances in New York and Chicago, the pros should be itching to ink Riker's name on a lucrative contract. When asked if he thought his team was beginning to peak, which means a lot when tournament time rolls around, Riker replied, "It's too early to tell yet, but we've been playing well the last two games." Riker summed up USC's play of late in saying, "When you win, you play good; when you lose, you don't." g team features rthened pitching (Continued irom Page 9) '11 have a very be a real good hitter for us." only have four "Pitching will be our strength ill probably be this year. We have Larry Erbaugh, ,shman. Bo Robinson and just about the ill probably open entire pitching staff from last year re anxious to see returning. )n. "We also have freshman pitcher ,ill be counted on Earl Bass coming up. He was Caldwell of last undefeated with his union team ig bat and should this past summe STAHl 0000L Red Carpet Hour Monday thru Friday 5:30 to 6:30 Michelob or Set-Up 30* Prime Rib Dinner $325 Sandwiches. Soups, Salads. Desserts 634 HARDEN STREET at Five Points IiMusE um~EH .m;d ennlsumntanm npe-mit No -8