Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9403310096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
The Wildcats, who finished with a 20-12 record after going 8-19 last year, rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit and won going away despite great outside shooting by Vanderbilt's Frank Seckar.
Villanova, made up primarily of sophomores and freshmen, beat a team that went to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Commodores (20-12) self-destructed in the second half, scoring three points in the last four minutes after the score was tied 70-70.
Jonathan Haynes scored 19 points, including a 3-pointer with 3:22 left that gave Villanova the lead for good and capped its comeback from a 41-26 halftime deficit. Kerry Kittles had 18 and Eric Eberz added 16. Villanova became the 15th school to win an NCAA and an NIT championship and posted its first 20-win season since 1987-88.
For Vanderbilt, former Duke guard Billy McCaffrey scored five points, 16 below his average, including none in the final 20 minutes. Seckar, a junior guard whose previous career-high was 23, scored 30 points.
In the consolation game, Doremus Bennerman scored 51 points as Siena (25-8) beat Kansas State (20-14) 92-79. Bennerman, who scored his last 19 points on free throws and exited to a standing ovation, broke the tournament scoring record of 132 points set by Reggie King of Alabama in 1979. The senior guard finished with 174 points, an average of 34.8 per game.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB