Towsonttaic
Tiger Tracks
Published exclusively for Tiger Club members
by the News and Publications Services
Tuesday, December 2, 1975
BASKETBALL DEBUTS WITH NATIONAL BOH TOURNEY
Towson State's 1975-76 varsity basketball squad will make its debut this
Thursday night when the Tigers battle scrappy Loyola College at 9 p.m. in the first
round of the National Boh Metro Basketball Classic at the University of Maryland--
Baltimore County campus.
The University of Baltimore Bees have drawn the top seed in the tourney, and
consequently a first round bye. Coppin State, led by 6-11 senior All -America Joe Pace,
was awarded the second seed and will face seventh-seeded U.M.B.C. at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Morgan State University, winners of the tournament for the past three years, is the
number three seed and will play Johns Hopkins University Thursday at 7 p.m. Our Tigers
are the number four seed, and as mentioned above will face the Loyola Greyhounds, seed¬
ed fifth.
The Towson State contingent, under 10th year mentor Vince Angotti , has eight
lettermen returning for the upcoming season. Heading this list is junior forward
Pat McKinley, who towers at 6-7 and was the Tigers' leading scorer and rebounder last
season with 20.2 and 14.7 per game, respectively. Pat will be joined on the front
line by 6-6 Bobby Washington (14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds) and Brian Matthews (10.2 points,
8.8 rebounds). Veteran seniors Ray Tannahill and Francis Clay may also play in one of
the forward slots, allowing Matthews to move to guard. Freshman Savia Sharp, a 6-4
native of Cambridge, Md., will see action as a swingman.
Angotti feels the team's only weakness will be at the guard position, where
senior Mike Jeffers is the only Tiger backcourter with experience. Pressing Jeffers
for a starting role are sophomore Curtis Young and junior college transfer Rod Norris.
Norris will be eligible only for the second half of the season and will not play in
this weekend's tournament.
The Tigers' strength this season appears to be on the backboards, where they
averaged over 50 rebounds per game a season ago, fifteen more than the opposition
average. McKinley, a potential All-America and a sure bet to shatter all of Larry
Witherspoon's scoring records here at Towson, could be the finest player in the area
by seasons end. If the guard problems can be solved, Angotti feels this year's
squad could be the best in the history of Towson basketball.
Should the Tigers get past Loyola, they would then face the top-seeded B.U. Bees
Friday night at 9 p.m. the championship contest is slated for Saturday night, also
at 9 p.m. Bees' head coach Frank Szymanski welcomes back eight lettermen from last
year's 19-11 squad , losing only A1 Albertie and Fran Jamrogowicz. Returning is
Ronald Smith, last year's tournament Most Valuable Player. Smith returned from an
ankle injury to average 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. He will be joined in
the lineup by 6-5 forward Carl Kenty, and one of three center candidates that include
6-10 Ray Petty, 6-8 Rick Crandall, or 6-7 Cleveland Rudi sill. Junior George Pinch-
back will be the swingman, while guards Gerald Watson and Kenny Sullivan give the Bees
scoring and ball handling out front.
The Loyola Greyhounds are led by captain Mark Rhode, a 6-8 center and fourth
year starter. Morris Cannon, a smooth 6-4 forward, and 6-7 Jim Smith will also be
on the starting front line. Jim Daly (6-4), Bobby Reilly, and John Morris will also
press for starting roles. In the backcourt the Greyhounds can count on senior John
Prather and sophomores Fran Palazzi and Paul Eibeler. Four freshmen--Jack Vogt, Rich
Britton, Bud Campbell, and Tim Koch--will also figure prominently ■in coach Tommy
O'Connor's scheme of things. Loyola should be able to give the Tigers all they can
handle in the opening round, and the 9 p.m. contest Thursday should be on of the tourney's
best. The Tiger-B.U. battle, should it come about, will also be a sizzler!
--over--
