Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503210071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DAYTON, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
``It was an airball,'' said Virginia sophomore Jamal Robinson, after being advised the media wanted to speak with him Saturday. ``They want to talk to me about an airball?''
Robinson was referring to the shot that could have lifted Virginia over Miami of Ohio in regulation at Dayton Arena, but there were other issues to resolve.
Robinson was relieved to survive UVa's 60-54 overtime victory over the Redskins because he knew how close he had come to being the goat.
The score was 46-46 with approximately 25 seconds remaining in the second half when Miami's Chris McGuire came flying down the left side of the key and put up an off-balance runner that left him and Robinson sprawling.
``Their No.15 [Kevin Beard] was trying to box me out and I was just standing there,'' Robinson said. ``It wasn't a foul on me. I don't think it was a charge, either. I think he may have tripped over my foot.''
UVa guard Harold Deane tracked down the ball in a corner and nearly was knocked from his feet before one of his teammates came to the rescue and called time out.
``I don't think there's any question that there was contact on the play [involving McGuire],'' said UVa coach Jeff Jones, ``but it also looked like somebody shoved Harold. I think the officials decided they wanted to let the players decide it.''
Earlier in the second half, after UVa had cut a 32-22 deficit to 34-33, the Cavaliers lost some of their momentum when Robinson fouled the Redskins' Derrick Cross on a 3-point attempt.
The shot clock was running down and Cross' shot obviously wasn't close to going in the basket, but Robinson fouled him on the followthrough. Coupled with the miss at the end of regulation, it left Robinson with a disgusted feeling.
``I would have remembered it forever if we had lost,'' said Robinson, a sophomore. ``The funny thing is, everybody else was a little nervous ... but I was really comfortable.''
STAPLES STEAMED: Freshman Curtis Staples from Roanoke didn't have any mental lapses, but he wasn't bragging about a 10-point outing in his second NCAA Tournament game for Virginia.
``I'm mad at myself,'' said Staples, who was 4-of-13 from the field. ``I thought I knew better than to rush, but I did anyway. I guess it's just a learning process.''
Staples missed his first four shots of the second half, but his 3-pointer with 6:56 remaining tied the score at 38. A Staples field goal, from just inside the 3-point line, put the Cavaliers ahead 40-38.
``Today we wanted to establish ourselves early, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise that we didn't,'' Staples said. ``We've been playing that way all season.''
MAN IN MOTION: Staples said there was no question in his mind about a traveling call against the Redskins' McGuire with 4.7 seconds left in overtime and Virginia leading 57-54.
``He definitely ran with the ball,'' Staples said. ``All he needed was his bags to take with him.''
MOVING UP THE LIST: The Cavaliers (24-8) have won more games than any Virginia team that did not have Ralph Sampson, the three-time national player of the year. UVa was 24-10 in Sampson's freshman year, 1979-80, before putting together 29-4, 30-4 and 29-5 seasons.
ORDERING DOUBLES: Junior Burrough, whose scoring high for the season was 26 points going into the ACC tournament, has had games of 36, 31 and 28 points among his past four outings. His 28-point, 12-rebound effort Saturday marked his ninth double-double of the season.
SHORT STUFF: Virginia has a 3-0 record at Dayton Arena, including a 74-67 victory over Dayton in 1987. ... The Cavaliers set an ACC record with their ninth consecutive overtime victory, breaking the mark set by Maryland from 1977-82. UVa has won 17 of 19 overtime games dating to 1987. ... Staples' two 3-point field goals gave him 96 for the season, two short of Dennis Scott's ACC record for a freshman.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB