thebattalion ● monday,
february 6, 2012
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
Aggies-Longhorns, the end
Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
The Reed Rowdies will welcome the Texas Longhorns to Reed Arena Monday at 8 p.m. This is the 222nd meeting between the bitter rivals.
Rivals desperate for win in final Lone Star Showdown Chandler Smith The Battalion The Aggies (12-10, 3-7) and Longhorns (14-9, 4-6) are locked in a showdown for the final time as members of the same conference when they hit the court 8 p.m. Saturday at Reed Arena. The nationally televised matchup will likely mean bragging rights for an extended, though indefinite, period of time, barring a rematch in the post-season — raising the stakes for what stands as the longest basketball series in A&M history. Though both teams have been regular NCAA tournament staples in recent years, A&M and Texas stumble into this contest after disappointing
starts in Big 12 play. The Aggies lost a heartbreaker to rival Baylor on Wednesday before a gamebreaking second-half collapse against the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday in Manhattan. Texas, meanwhile, is only one game ahead of A&M in conference after a win over last-place Texas Tech Saturday halted a two-game losing skid. In this season’s previous meeting between the two teams, the Longhorns won comfortably over the Aggies, 61-51, in Austin. A&M has since improved on the offensive side of the ball and has maintained defensive consistency, ranking first in the Big 12 in both scoring and three-point See Longhorns on page 8
Redshirt freshman Alexander transitions from disciple to leader Austin Meek
Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
Freshman forward Daniel Alexander provides a 3-point threat for the Aggies.
The Battalion Black ink in Hebrew lettering runs along the inside of freshman forward Daniel Alexander’s left bicep. “It’s Hebrew for ‘disciple,’” Alexander said of his tattoo. “My faith is most important and all glory goes to God for the situation that I’m in. I’m really working on, good or bad, giving the glory to him instead of just thanking him in the good or calling on him in the bad.” The word “disciple,” a term used to describe Jesus’ followers derived from the Latin “discipulus,” which means a pupil or learner, succinctly sums up Alexander’s life. Study basketball. Study Jesus. All the time. That’s the way it was last year, anyway, when he was forced to observe Mark Turgeon’s squad from the bench as a redshirt freshman. He said that, while See Alexander on page 6
Last 10 meetings
Rivalry history
Jan. 30, 2008 College Station, A&M 80-63
Feb. 27, 2010 College Station, A&M 74-58
All-tme record: Texas leads, 185-136
Feb. 18, 2008 Austin, UT 50-77
Jan. 19, 2011 Austin, UT 60-81
In Austin: Texas leads, 79-27
Jan. 24, 2009 Austin, UT 58-67
Jan. 31, 2011 College Station, UT 49-69
In College Station: A&M leads, 54-51
Feb. 16, 2009 College Station, A&M 81-66
Mar. 11, 2011 Kansas City, UT 58-70
A&M has won six of the last seven games at home
Jan. 16, 2010 Austin (OT), UT 67-72
Jan. 11, 2012 Austin, UT 51-61
Monday’s game is the 222nd meeting between A&M and UT
inside news | 2 Under water
State law mandates student meningitis vaccinations Michal Ann Morrison The Battalion
Six inches of rainfall caused flooding across parts of BryanCollege Station this weekend. Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
Bacterial meningitis shots are available to students on-campus in A.P. Beutal Health Center for $110.
The Texas legislature expanded requirements for student meningitis vaccinations, effective Jan. 1. Texas Senate Bill 1107 requires all students under the age of 30 entering an institution of higher education to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or meet specific criteria required to decline a vaccination before the first day of class. There are approximately 2,000 cases of bacterial meningitis every year in the U.S. The disease has two strains, bacterial and viral. While viral is more easily treated, serious cases of bacterial
meningitis can leave victims with permanent mental damage or be fatal. Efforts were made to inform students about SB 1107, including information on the Beutel Health Services website, the Admissions website and an email campaign targeting admitted applicants prior to their New Student Conference. The law requires that new students — incoming freshmen and transfer students — receive the immunization, but does not include students who attended the University in the fall. According to Rene Aguirre, a Beutel employee, many new students have visited Beutel to receive the vaccination during the See Meningitis on page 7
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