With three likely starters on one-game suspensions for breaking team rules last spring, Utah State looked to two returned LDS missionaries Monday night in its only exhibition game.
Eric Franson and Bryon Ruffner were rough and ready as always, even though it was the first real game they'd played in 21/2 years. Neither looked rusty.Yes, it was only against a Croatian team long on height but stiff in skills and understanding of the American game and 0-6 on its tour of the West. "That's not the type of team we'll be playing," said new Aggie coach Larry Eustachy.
But Franson scored 29 points on 11-for-19 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds on the way to an 85-69 win over touring B.C. Dona Zagreb in the Smith Spectrum. The sophomore says he's a more mature player than he was as a starting freshman in 1990-91.
And Ruffner, 4-for-12 from the field trying to shoot over 7-footers (he's 6-6), totaled 21 points and snatched 13 rebounds - high for either club.
The '90-91 Big West Freshman of the Year, who may waive the season with herniated disks in his back, gave the spine a workout Monday, diving up the tunnel to save a loose ball, tipping the ball three and four times in a row against bigger people, blocking out opponents who shoved him in the back trying to get to the ball and getting knocked on his duff while rebounding.
He was encouraged. "I felt OK," he said, optimistic now about playing this season. He hurt the back rebounding in a summer pickup game at BYU and went three months without playing, one month flat on his back. He began practice 11/2 weeks ago.
Of Ruffner's all-out play, Franson marveled, "He's just a player."
So is Franson. "Nothing he does surprises me," said Eustachy. "He's going to be one of the cornerstones of the team."
With Trent Rose and Nate and Jon Wickizer out, Eustachy had 6-7 Franson at center, Ruffner at power forward, guard Junsie Cotten at No. 3 and Corwin Woodard and Roddie Anderson at guards.
The first half was close until there were four minutes left and the Aggies went from five behind to seven up with Franson scoring seven and Ruffner six. The second half, neither club could buy a basket for the first six minutes until Ruffner dove up the tunnel to retrieve a ball; the shot off his play missed, but Franson slammed the rebound and added a flying stuff off a Dona turnover the next time down the court. That put the Ags on a 39-points-in-14-minutes drive.
Anderson had 15 points, nine boards, and fellow JC transfer Woodard had 11 points.
The Aggies open the regular season Dec. 3 at Colorado State.