
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991                   TAG: 9103120029
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

UNLV HAS 2 OF TOP 5

Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon, the forwards who have helped top-ranked Nevada-Las Vegas to a 41-game winning streak as it prepares to defend its national championship, were named on Monday to the Associated Press All-America basketball team.

They become the fifth set of teammates to be named to the first team and the first since North Carolina's Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins in 1984.

Johnson also became the 39th player to repeat as an All-American, earning the honor in both of his seasons playing for the Runnin' Rebels after transferring from junior college.

Joining the seniors on the first team were forward Billy Owens of Syracuse, a junior, and Louisiana State center Shaquille O'Neal and Georgia Tech guard Kenny Anderson, both sophomores.

Forward Bryant Stith of Virginia was given honorable mention by the nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who voted, with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

O'Neal was named to the first team on 62 of the 64 ballots cast and finished with 316 points, two more than Johnson, who had 61 first-team votes. Owens had 266 points, Anderson 259 and Augmon 253.

Owens and O'Neal give their schools a player on the first team for the third straight season.

Johnson averaged 22.9 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field. Augmon added 17.2 points per game, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 59 percent from the field, including an improved touch from behind the 3-point line.

What makes the numbers of Johnson and Augmon even more impressive is that the two rarely got to play a full game as the Runnin' Rebels ran roughshod through their schedule, with an average winning margin of almost 30 points a game.

Anderson, a 6-2 left-hander, saw every conceivable defense as opponents were able to concentrate on him following the loss of fellow perimeter players Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver. He averaged 25.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game for the Yellow Jackets.

"It's been and up-and-down year but I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates," Anderson said. "It's a great feeling to be named an All-American. I thank God for all my blessings and I thank coach [Bobby] Cremins. He has done all he can to make this season fun for me, and now in the NCAA anything can happen."

O'Neal, who missed the final regular-season game and the Southeastern Conference tournament with a hairline fracture in his left leg, led the nation in rebounding at 14.6 per game. He has been cleared to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Owens, a 6-9 forward, earned Big East player of the year honors and averaged 23.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

The second team included senior guards Eric Murdock of Providence and Steve Smith of Michigan State, sophomore guard Jimmy Jackson of Ohio State, junior center Christian Laettner of Duke and junior forward Todd Day of Arkansas.

The third team had four seniors - guards Keith "Mister" Jennings of East Tennessee State and Rodney Monroe of North Carolina State, forward Doug Smith of Missouri and center Dikembe Mutombo of Georgetown - and sophomore forward Calbert Cheaney of Indiana.

by CNB