Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 21, 1993 TAG: 9301210156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
UVA WIN STREAK ENDS - AND HOW
Within minutes of tipoff Wednesday night, Virginia had forgotten about the nation's longest winning streak.At that point, the Cavaliers were just trying to preserve their self respect.
North Carolina has made a habit of routing the Cavaliers at the Dean Smith Center and their latest meeting was no exception as the third-ranked Tar Heels prevailed 80-58.
The crowd spent the closing moments mocking the Cavaliers with chants of "overrated, overrated." UVa's past six losses in Chapel Hill have been by 18 points or more.
A 13-0 run enabled UNC to grab an 18-6 lead with 11:51 left in the first half and the Tar Heels were hardly threatened in taking over sole possession of first place in the ACC at 5-0 (15-1 overall).
For seventh-ranked Virginia (11-1, 4-1), a 16 1/2-point underdog, it marked the end of a 16-game winning streak that started with the National Invitation Tournament last year.
It was an offensive nightmare for UVa, which had not scored fewer than 72 points in any game this season. The Cavaliers came into Wednesday night's action averaging 84.2 points per game.
No team had shot 50 percent from the field against Virginia this season and the Tar Heels took awhile to find their range. However, UVa was unable to control the boards as it had Sunday in a 77-69 upset of then-No. 3 Duke.
The Tar Heels shot 39.4 percent in the first half, but led 32-25 behind defensive specialist Henrik Rodl, who had 11 points, hitting all four of his shots from the field, including three 3-pointers.
Rodl and George Lynch combined for seven field goals in the first half and the rest of the starters had one, including a jump hook by Eric Montross on the Tar Heels' last possession. That was a sign of things to come.
Carolina repeatedly exploited its height advantage in the second half and 7-footers Montross and Kevin Salvadori each had 10 points while sending UVa center Ted Jeffries to the bench with fouls for most of the second half.
It was 44-35 before Carolina went on a 14-1 run that effectively ended the game midway through the second half. Carolina led by 29 points on two occasions.
Carolina had six players in double figures, led by Salvadori with 14. Salvadori, whose season high before Wednesday night was eight, scored 10 when the Cavaliers visited the Smith Center last year.
"We haven't used Salvadori and Montross together much all year," coach Dean Smith said. "That puts a guy named [George] Lynch on the bench and I don't like him sitting next to me."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL