Fast Break

College basketball

Gonzaga men open tonight

The Gonzaga men’s basketball team entertains Emporia State in an exhibition game tonight at 5 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The 23rd-ranked Hornets, an NCAA Division II school from Emporia, Kan., gave Texas A&M a scare in the second half before falling 85-73 in an exhibition contest last week. DeAndre Townsend, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, scored 20 points against the Aggies.

“They’re really hard to play against,” GU coach Mark Few said. “They spread you out, five guys out, they pass and move the ball, and all of them can shoot 3s.”

Gonzaga will be without forward Theo Davis (foot), but there’s a possibility Josh Heytvelt (stress reaction in his foot) will play. Few said Davis has a “nasty infection” in his foot. Davis sported a walking boot at practice Tuesday. Heytvelt practiced with the team for about 15 minutes. If no problems develop overnight, Heytvelt could be available for limited duty against Emporia State.

Few said the probable starters are Jeremy Pargo, Matt Bouldin, Micah Downs, Abdullahi Kuso and David Pendergraft.

Deceased

Former GU rower killed in Iraq

Former Gonzaga University men’s rower Nathan Schuldheiss was killed while serving in Iraq as a civilian for the Office of Special Investigations in the U.S. Air Force. Schuldheiss and two other agents were killed last Thursday when the vehicle they were riding in struck an improvised explosive device.

Schuldheiss was a 2002 graduate of Gonzaga in political science. He was a member of the rowing squad from 1998 to 2000 and also had participated in the ROTC program.

A memorial service will be held for Schuldheiss at the Buckley Air Force Base Chapel in Denver on Sunday. For more information, contact GU rowing coach Dan Gehn, 323-4228.

College athletics

Livengood, Stoops safe at Arizona

University of Arizona president Robert Shelton said athletic director Jim Livengood and football coach Mike Stoops will return next year.

Livengood, the former athletic director at Washington State, and Stoops are both under contract through 2010.