D. Ryan Monceaux
SPORTS EDITOR
Moses descends
Moses Malone Jr. made the most of his first-ever appearance Monday in Hofheinz Pavilion. The Cougar freshman scored 21 points in only 16 minutes of play as his South Texas All Stars went down in defeat to the North All Stars, 106-103.
Malone did not start the annual game that pits recent high school graduates against each other by region. He was not happy with South Texas coach Randy Wiesinger's decision not to start him.
"I thought I should have started. I felt I should have been in more. But that was coach's decision," he said following the game.
Malone ran up the floor better than any of the other players in the game and controlled the tempo for the small amount of time he was in the game. He said he is most comfortable with the quick style of play.
"That tempo best suits the game I like to play. I like to get up and down the court, try and get hot real fast. I like to work, sweat and get into the game a little more."
Malone did not win his team's MVP; that award went to Toshay Harvey, who is headed off to Kilgore College in the fall. But it was clear that no one had an effect on the game like Moses.
In a 55-second stretch, Malone scored nine straight points to get his reeling South squad into a tie with the North. During that fourth-quarter run, Malone scored all but one of his second-half points, a statistic that could have been altered had Malone been on the floor more in the second half.
"It was fun game and I had a good time, but I would have liked to be on the floor more down the stretch. But that is the way it goes. But I enjoyed it."
The game ended Malone's ties to the high school game and allows the Hall of Famer's son to focus on UH basketball. He says he is ready for the upcoming Cougar season.
"I'm excited about UH and Clyde and about playing four years in college. That is one of my plans is to go four years at UH, and then Clyde will tell me if I am ready for the NBA or not."
With Malone's Hofheinz debut behind him, he now looks forward to the next two important dates in the building: October 17 (Midnight Madness) and November 17, the first game of the season at home against Texas.
KTRH and Ware
1989 Heisman Trophy winner and Cougar alumnus Andre Ware has agreed to provide the color commentary on the KTRH radio broadcasts of Cougar football games in 1998. Ware says he will cherish the opportunity.
"It'll be great to work the UH games this year," he said. "I love the program, and this is one way for me to get involved."
Ware will be teaming with KTRH sports director Russ Small, who will be doing the play-by-play. Small was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
After being drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions in the 1989 NFL Draft, Ware had a short and unsuccessful career in the NFL. He later played several seasons in the Canadian Football League before accepting the broadcast position.
For the past two years, former Cougar coach Bill Yeoman has handled the commentary responsibilities that Ware is taking over. Yeoman could not be happier for Ware.
"Andre will do a great job. It is time we get the younger guys in here and developing them," Coach Yeoman said.
Yeoman himself will center his involvement with the athletic development and marketing departments, instead of the day-to-day operations and broadcasting demands. He did say, however, that it is uncertain whether or not he will do commentary on televised football games.
The first full-team practice for football is slated for August 14, with the first game of the season against Cal, September 5 in Berkeley, Calif.
Cougar fencing
Six UH students competed in the US fencing Association National Championships earlier this month.
Sara Solomon, who also doubles as coach of the UH team, won the Division IA women's saber event. Solomon also teamed with Cynthia Vargas to win the bronze medal in the women's saber team event.