THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503120481
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
A trip to Louisville has been in Norfolk State's travel plans ever since the Spartans lost in the first round of the Division II Elite Eight last March.
Saturday night, the Spartans bought their ticket - a return trip to the Elite Eight - with a thoroughly dominating, 84-66, victory over Virginia Union in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional final at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Norfolk State (26-5) will play the Southern Region winner in a Division II quarterfinal game in Louisville March 22.
``It's the best feeling ever, I tell you,'' said guard Carnell Penn, who savored the moment by lying on his back at halfcourt. ``This is ours, and we came back and defended ours.''
Norfolk State beat Union last season, 71-69, to advance to the Elite Eight. Saturday's contest wasn't nearly as dramatic, as Norfolk State took control early in the second half and ran away from the Panthers, who were ranked No. 4 in the nation and had beaten Norfolk State two weeks ago in the CIAA tournament championship.
``We had extra incentive,'' Derrick Bryant said. ``Just to get back at them, that's what carried us.''
Norfolk State set the tone with its defense, including a 1-3-1 zone the Spartans had not thrown at Union (26-5) since last year's South Atlantic Regional final.
``You play a team four times and you have to do something different,'' NSU coach Mike Bernard said. ``What we tried to do was mix up our defenses.''
Tournament MVP Corey Williams led the Spartans with 20 points. Carnell Penn also had 20, as Norfolk State shot 50 percent from the floor against a team that holds opponents to 32.
``We stayed with our plan, which was to go inside so we can open the outside up,'' Williams said.
The Spartans took control with their defense early in the second half, turning Union misses and turnovers into transition baskets.
NSU opened the half with a 12-5 run that gave it a 50-36 advantage with 15:49 remaining. Union cut the lead to seven, 52-45, but after a timeout the Spartans scored 10 straight to take command.
Both teams tried to establish control early by pushing the ball inside. The Spartans had more success, as their inside trio of Williams, Bryant and Blitz Wooten combined for 31 first-half points, four more than they had in the entire CIAA title game two weeks ago.
Norfolk State came out in an aggressive man-to-man defense and Union missed its first six shots. The Spartans also used the 1-3-1 to stifle Union's perimeter game and hold perennial NSU nemesis Thomas Meredith to six points.
A Wooten layup gave Norfolk State a 17-9 lead seven minutes into the game.
Union had several chances to take the lead, but center Ben Wallace missed five straight from the free throw line. Then Williams, who had been on the bench with two fouls, re-entered the game and scored eight of Norfolk State's last 10 to give the Spartans a 38-31 halftime lead. by CNB