21.   The game marks the first of eight straight days of competition for the United States, assuming it makes it to the Final Four.

22.   The game marks the second consecutive year the Frogs have opened the tournament against a Big Ten opponent.

23.   The game will mark the final appearence of one All-Star.

24.   The game will mark the first time that Colts running back Marshall Faulk has been back to San Diego since he left San Diego State two years ago.

25.   The game marked his first loss to the Clippers since he left the franchise.

26.   The game marked the begining of the first busy stretch of the schedule for the Rangers, with three games in four nights.

27.   The game marked the Met debut of Tony Phillips, who was acquired from Toronto on Friday.

28.   The game marked the Ranger debuts of Esa Tikkanen and Russ Courtnall, obtained last Saturday in a trade with Vancouver for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan.

29.   The game marked the return of captain Ray Bourque, who missed five games because of a strained oblique muscle.

30.   The game marked the return of major-league umpires from their four-month lockout, and the players seemed to welcome them back enthusiastically.