European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 8, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 b the stars and stripes sports monday March 8,1993 laettner s Basket spurs out of first Aba by the associated press Minneapolis a Christian laettner made a name for himself in College by coming through in the clutch and he advanced that reputation to the Aba on saturday night., a laettner a three Point play with 1.4 seconds left gave the Minnesota Timber wolves a 106-105 Victory Over the struggling san Antonio spurs who fell out of first in the Midwest division. With the spurs leading 105-103, Dale Ellis fouled laettner As he went up for an off balance jump shot from the free throw line. Laettner Sank the ensuing free throw for the Victory. To told him to get us two Points and he went and got three a Timber Wolf coach Sidney Lowe said. �?�1 a a no to think i be seen him a us Don smile that much since he a been  an inbound lob by Avery Johnson whose Layup gave the spurs the 105-103 Lead with 4.3 seconds left was intercepted by Bob Mccann As time expired. Laettner acknowledged that he had made More significant shots in College but admitted this also was special. A a it a not As big in terms laettner of what it accomplished a laettner said a a we re not going to go on and win the championship. But its a big win for  the loss the spurs seventh in 10 games since they won 18 of 19, rallied from an 11-Point deficit Early in the fourth Quarter to take a pair of two Point leads. Coupled with Houston a Victory Over Sacramento the rockets moved a half game ahead of the spurs. Nil by the associated press Quebec a Joe Sakic had two goals and two assists As the Quebec Nordques moved into a tie for second place in the Overall nil standings with a 10-2 Victory Over the new York rangers. Defens Eman Steve Duchesne added two goals and one assist for the Nordques who had their biggest offensive output of the season. The Nordques who have 84 Points and Are solidly in second place in the Adams division moved into a second place tie with the Pittsburgh penguins in the Chase to catch the Montreal Ca Nadies. In other games saturday Maple Leafs 4, jets 2 Toronto a Toronto used a balanced attack and a solid performance from goaltender Felix Potvin to beat Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs coming off a 5-1 loss to Detroit on Friday night that broke their 10-game unbeaten Streak got goals from Peter Zezel Dave Mcl Twain Mike Foligno and Dave Andreychuk. The Maple Leafs Are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games Randy Carlyle and Evgeny Davydov scored for Winnipeg. Chuck person scored a season High 33 Points and laettner finished with 25 As the Timber wolves survived despite losing a 17-Point, third Quarter  149,76era93 Seattle a Eddie Johnson scored nine of his 21 Points As Seattle used a 31-2 first half burst and routed Philadelphia for its 10th consecutive Victory. It was the second 56-Point loss of the season by the mixers who fell 1.54-98 at Sacramento on Jan. 2.hawks 139, jazz 118 Atlanta a cookie Blaylock set a1 franchise record with 23 assists lifting Atlanta Over Utah. Blaylock surpassed his career High by six and broke the Hawks record of 21 set by Doc Rivers against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986/blaylock scored 11  117, nuggets 90 East Rutherford n j. Rumeal Robinson subbing for the injured Kenny Anderson had five of his 11 assists to spark new Jersey to an 18-Point first Quarter Lead in route to Victory Over Denver. The loss was Denver a 25th in 29 Road  109, Mavericks 102 Dallas a Kevin Johnson scored 28 Points and Phoenix survived the fourth Guarter ejection of Charles Barkley and a scare from hapless Dallas. Dan Majerle scored 18 Points As the suns who own the Best record in the Aba handed the Mavericks their 14th consecutive defeat. Derek Harper had 27 Points and Jim Jackson playing his second game since being signed on thursday finished with 19 for Dallas 4-52 this  119, Kings 102 Houston a Houston won its 10th consecutive game and moved into first place in Henba a Midwest division behind Hakeem Olajuwon s 27 Points and 15 rebounds against Sacramento. The win was the rockets 23rd in 28  10-2. Bruins 4, blues 3, of Boston a Ray Bourgue scored on a Power play blast from just inside the Blue line with 21 seconds left in overtime to lift Boston past St. Louis. Whalers 5, canucks 1 Hartford Conn. A Sean Burke made 35 saves and Andrew Cassels scored a pair of Power play goals 71 seconds apart As Hartford beat vancouver., lightning 7, flames 4 Tampa Adam Creighton scored once and added two assists and Chris Kontos had three assists As Tampa Bay tied its Best output of the  stars 4, Canad Lens 3 Bloomington Minn. Mike Modano had a goal and three assists As Minnesota beat Montreal in front of a Rowdy crowd that repeatedly voiced its displeasure about the stars impending move to  6, oilers 1 Inglewood Calif. A Luc Robitaille continued his dominance Over Edmonton with two goals and two assists and Wayne Gretzky contributed to a 52-shot assault with his seventh goal and two assists. Johnson won t Appeal ban Toronto up Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson maintaining innocence after his second steroid episode retired from competitive racing sunday and said he wont Appeal his lifetime ban from International track. Citing his age a 31 a financial costs and family obligations Johnson made his retirement official at a news conference he did not attend by issuing a statement read by attorney Terrence of Sullivan. Johnson slammed the International Amateur athletic federation testing procedures and alleged non adherence to its own confidentiality rules. �?o1 have had a Long career in track. 1 have experienced Success and failure. I said after the Seoul olympics 1 would come Back and compete Dean. I know that i did a his statement said. The jamaican born Canadian raised sprinter was suspended for life Friday by the Isaaf when it ruled a urine Sample taken at a Montreal meet Jan. 15 indicated he had used steroids. Johnson was not allowed to plead his Case at the Laaff a Paris meeting but was Given the option of appealing the ruling. �?o1 wish today to announce my retirement from competitive running. I had hoped not to end my career in this Way a his statement said. A although i have been advised by my counsel and others that i have a Strong Case for an Appeal i have decided not to pursue that Appeal having regard to my age the Cost of such an Appeal and my obligations to my  of Sullivan said his client claims he a did not take any substances or engage in any prohibited practices a and would be advised of his rights to sue anyone w to says he has. College basketball Andy finishes on top in  Utah is upset by the associated press Columbia . A Bill Mccaffrey had 19 Points and no 7 Vanderbilt won its Erst outright Southeastern conference title since 1965, defeating South Carolina 77-73 on saturday. The commodores 25-4,14-2 lost almost All of a 23-Point Lead but made 7 of 9 foul shots in the final minute to win their eighth straight. Troy Mckoy scored 18 of his 22 Points in the second half for South Carolina 9-17,5-11which trailed 70-68 with 1 06 remaining. The win set a Vanderbilt record for most victories in a season. It was South Carolinas sixth straight loss. In other games saturday Texas i paso 79, no. 9 Utah 70 Elpaso Texas a Texas i Pasos upset Victo to Over ninth ranked Utah 22-5 dropped the utes into a tie with Brigham Young for the Western athletic conference regular season . 12 Cincinnati 76, Memphis St. 55 Cincinnati a Cincinnati shut Down anger Nee Hardaway and beat Memphis state in a showdown for the great Midwest conference regular season championship. The bearcats 224,8-2 took control Midway through the first half with a 17-2 run. Hardaway who leads the conference with a 23.3 average scored just nine Points for the tigers 1910,73. A. Auburn 81, no. 13 Arkansas 80 Auburn Ala. A Wesley person hit a three Pointer from the Corner with one second remaining to lift Auburn Over Arkansas. Arkansas had already clinched the Western division title in the Southeastern conference and finished the regular season with a 19-7 record and a 10-6 league . 14 Wake Forest 80, n. Carolina St. 68 Winston Salem . Randolph Childress scored 28 Points As Wake Forest completed its Best regular season in nine years. Wake Forest which broke open the game with a 14-0 run in the second half is 19-7,10-6 in the Atlantic coast . 24 Purdue 69, no. 15 Iowa 58 West Lafayette ind. A big ten scoring and rebounding Leader Glenn Robinson had 30 Points and 12 rebounds to Lead Purdue. Iowa 19-8,8-7 in the big ten scored Only two Points in the final four  so Fullerton 84, no. 16 univ 83 Fullerton Calif. A Aaron Sunderland hit a 15-foot jumper with one second remaining to lift Caj state Fullerton 15-11 Over univ 20-6 no. 17 new Orleans 63, Louisiana tech 52 Biloxi miss. A new Orleans survived the absence of senior Center Ervin Johnson and eliminated Louisiana tech from the Sun Belt Confer ence tournament the privateers 25-2 won their 12th straight game. Johnson did no to play because of a moderate sprain of the right ankle. Louisiana tech 7-21 wont go to a postseason tournament for the first time in a decade Duquesne 66, no. 18 Xavier 72 Pittsburgh a Alan Watkins Derrick Alston and Kenya Hunter each scored 20 Points As Duquesne ended Xavier a season Best nine game winning . 20 Tulane 91, South Florida 75 new Orleans a Tulane retired senior Anthony Reed s number before the game then Reed went out and retired the school scoring record. Reed a 6-foot-9 Center scored 23 Points in the game to move from third on the Tulane scoring list to first. His 1,853 career Points moved him ahead of Paul Thompson and John Williams. T 2-2 lost for the first time since Jan. 27 at Cincinnati. New Mexico 79, no. 21 by 76 Albuquerque a Steve Logan scored 21 Points including four free throws in the final 27 seconds to Lead new Mexico Over Brigham Young