Page 10 Sharp shooting Banas named ATW by Bryan Gomolchak Collegian Staff The Behrend Lady Lions have come out strong over the past week and one certain player has stepped up to help them do it. This particular player is Housing and Food Services athlete of the week; Melanie Banas. Banas is an everyday starter for the Lady Lions and helps to show why her team remains a contender. Over the season, Banas has averaged 9.2 points per game and is one of the many contributors that lead to the Lady Lions offensive firepower, while running the show at point guard. When asked about the team this year, she gives a lot of credit to her remaining teammates from last year. “We are a lot more experienced this year coming off a season with seven freshies in the lineup.” Nittany Lions fall by Nick Zulovich Sports Editor Last night the Penn State Nittany Lion basketball team looked to take sole possession of first place in the Big 10 as they traveled to the Breslen Center to take on Michigan State. Thanks to poor shooting of the night, the Nittany Lions arc now in a three way tie for first place by losing 61-58 to the Spartans. Forward Quinten Brooks led the Spartans (12-8) with 21 points, 15 of those in the second half. Reserve guard Damon Bathea came off the bench to score a career high 12. Jamie Feick vvas the top rcboundcr for MSU with eight. Nittany Lion senior Matt Claudio posted 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Fellow Ohio State signs Nike contract worth 9 By Jeff Eldridge The Michigan Daily COLUMBUS, Ohio-Corporate America and college athletics have made their biggest partnership ever. Ohio State University has become the most recent in a scries of high-profile national universities to sign a multi-year contract with athletic shoe giant Nike. Ohio State's contract, which was announced in December, will bring $9.25 million to the university's athletic department over five years and provide uniforms and shoes for athletes and staff, said Paul Krebs, Ohio State's senior associate director of athletics. In fall 1994, the University of Michigan signed a contract with Banas also commented on her performance over the previous two games, “my shot has come back and I am trying to lead my team at the point guard position.” Banas’s previous three games against Hilbert and Washington and Jefferson and Buffalo State proved to be a pair of her finest this season. Banas, a second year 5' 5” guard, has proven to the rest of the college basketball world that she is a force on this Behrend Lady Lions team. Site scored 13 points and came up with two steals as Behrend muled Hilbert 75-46. In her very next game at Eric Hall, Banas helped the Lady Lions bury Washington and Jefferson with an 83-71 victory. She ended up with 20 points, shooting 6-for-16 from the field including four three pointers. Tuesday night Banas had her second consecutive 20 point night against Buffalo State. She senior Glen Sckunda also scored 19, and pulled down six rebounds. For the game, PSU (15-2) shot just 35 percent for the game compared to 45 percent for Mighigan State. With the outcome of the game, and combined with Purdue’s 82- 62 victory over Michigan, there is a three team logjam at the top of the Big 10. Penn Slate, Michigan State, and Purdue arc all 6-2 in the conference. As expected. Head Coach Jerry Dunn was not happy with his team,s performance. “We just had to make some plays. We had to dig in defensively, make some stops and put the ball in the basket. Basically we just didn’t play well tonight.” Nike worth $7.1 million over a seven-year period. At the time, it was considered the largest contract of its kind. "(The contract) provides Ohio State with an association and relationship with a quality, nationally recognized company," Krebs said. "This is a partnership between a world-renowned corporation and a first-class academic institution." Regent Laurence Deitch (D- Bloomfidd Hills) said one reason Ohio State's deal is more lucrative than the University of Michigan's is because Ohio State is the only major university in Ohio. "Ohio State dominates the state of Ohio, the Buckeyes dominate the state of Ohio," Deilch sard. "They don't have a Michigan versus Michigan State Snorts ATW: Melanie Banas finished 5-8 from the field and 8- 9 from charity stripe. at Michigan State Pete Lisicky’s three pointer gave PSU their only lead of the night at the 17 minute mark of the first half. But Spartan guard Ray Weathers only basket of the night gave MSU the lead for good at 35-34. That basket also triggered a 21-7 run that pul the Spartans up 53-41 lead with five minutes left in the game: But the Nittany Lions did not quit fighting. A 17-7 run of their own cut the MSU lead to four with 53 seconds left. But Michigan State hit their free throws in the final seconds to seal the 61-58 victory. PSU did win the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Spartans 41-31. The game was also plagued by turnovers as the Spartans turned it over 15 limes and PSU 17. rivalry to contend with." "They have one of the largest participation programs in the country," DeCarolis said. Ohio State has 34 intercollegiate teams and approximately 900 athletes, compared with the MU’s 23 teams and 600 athletes. DeCarolis said that most of the money in these contracts goes to providing apparel and gear to athletes, which makes the number of athletes a crucial factor when determining the value of a contract. Nike spokesman Keith Peters said many issues are considered when university contracts are made. Peters said that in the past Nike has .made deals with individual teams and programs. - He also said the recent trend of larger-scale contracts with entire Banas’s teammate Becky Reed says, “She’s(Banas) been quiet so far. She’s really come on the last few games and is a great outside threat. She’s adjusted well to the two guard position rather than the point guard position from last season.” Coach Roz Fomari had nothing but positives for her rising point guard. “This year is a different kind of year for Melanie, She’s a quiet leader who has become our sole point guard. She is one of our best shooters and is more of an offensive threat. She is respected by all of her teammates because she is even-keeled and is not rattled very easily under pressure.” To sum it all up, Melanie Banas has become an essential part of this Lady Lions team and docs all she can to contribute to a Lions victory. At halftime the Nittany Lions were down by only three, 27-24. But PSU’s poor shooting was the downfall of the evening. “I don’t think we set good screens, we didn’t get good looks at the basket. We just played sloppy in the first half,” said Dunn. “X great' wcaporV 1 fer ‘^ i Sjj) r ‘afl Ll season has been the three point shot. But last night the Nittany Lions shot just 6-26 for behind the arc. Next on the horizon for the Nittany Lions is the lowa Hawkeys on Saturday afternoon. Coach Dunn hopes for a much better effort from his squad against lowa. “I just like to see us play 40 minutes and play a lot tougher mentally and physicially then we did tonight.” departments brings money to less-visible sports. Walter Harrison, vice president for University Relations at Michigan, said there are no serious differences between the contracts of the UM and Ohio State. "My understanding is the Ohio State deal and our deal are basically the same," he said. Harrison said the reported values of the contracts are not as concrete as many people assume and are often inflated- He raid many variables-such as the cost of uniforms and the number of people being outfitted-cannot. be projected‘With precise'accuracy: Deitch said the business aspects of college sports tend to detract from the ideals of intercollegiate athletics. "I think the whole thing with Nike 'and Reebok and the other shoe Thursday, February 1,1996 Alumni game scheduled BEHREND-Alumni of the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will return to Erie Hall on Saturday, Feb. 3 for reunion games. The alumnae will play at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 3 p.m. Former Penn State-Behrend basketball players who have not received an invitation and would like to play in the reunion game should contact the Penn State- Behrend Athletic Office at 814/898-6163. All former students of Penn State-Behrend are.inyifecf ,tp gather at Erik Hall that evening for Alum Night in conjunction with the women's and men’s basketball games against Grove City College beginning at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively. Alumni Association members will receive a $l.OO ticket discount with their membership cards, and a special section will be reserved for all alumni. The College’s Alumni Society, which is organizing the event, will sponsor a door prize drawing at ■JHjXC "Bf&iiim uiili .Alumni can also enjoy dinner at the newly-renovated Dobbins Hall. The cost is $5.50 per person for an unlimited buffet. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling the Office of Development and University Relations at 814/898-6159. 2 million companies has gotten crazy,” Deitch said. "The combination of shoe contracts and television has dominated intercollegiate athletics." Deitch also said part of the University of Michigan's appeal to advertisers is its * consistent athletic success. "Michigan is as televised a university as any,” Deitch said. "We’re the one sports program that's top-caliber in basketball and football." Otber Big Ten schools that have contracts with Nike include Penn State and the University of Illinois.
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