Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991 TAG: 9102050251
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
On the eve of Tech's move into Big East football, Monday night brought another historical moment to the Hokies' campus - Richmond's first win in Cassell Coliseum.
The Spiders erased a five-point deficit midway through the second half and sent the Hokies to their eighth loss in nine games, 61-56.
Only 4,816 appeared at what is becoming Cassell Mausoleum to watch what Spiders coach Dick Tarrant called "a piece of artistry."
It was more like one of those dust-covered, oily prints over the bed in a $24.95-a-night motel.
However, it was nothing new for Tech (8-11), which has been trying for a month to notch its 300th victory at Cassell. The Hokies have shot below 40 percent in each of their last six games, an aggregate .340 percentage.
Against the Spiders, Tech reached a season nadir from the floor, hitting only 27.8 percent.
No, that is not a Tech record for futility (22.4 percent against Alabama in 1961), but the following statistic might be - coach Frankie Allen's team missed 22 of its last 23 shots.
The Hokies, who have shot less than 40 percent in 10 of 19 games, were 9-of-41 in the second half (22 percent).
Tech scored one field goal in its last 23 possessions, spanning 11 minutes.
The Hokies had the last five field-goal attempts of the game - clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.
Trailing 59-56 with 40 seconds left, Tech began a possession on which it rifled four 3-point shots - two by Corey Jackson, one by Rod Wheeler and one by Jay Purcell. Thomas Elliott had a stickback attempt sandwiched in there, too.
All were rim shots, and Richmond left town 1-21 in Cassell, with its first win on the Hokies' campus since 1957.
"When you shoot 22 percent, you find it tough to win," Allen said. "Our guys played hard. We dived for loose balls, came up with steals, but we missed four layups in a row at one stretch."
Richmond's 3-2 matchup zone was a major reason for Tech's ineptitude. The Spiders (13-8) came from a 46-41 deficit to a 51-46 lead in 4 1/2 minutes, then held on despite woeful free-throw shooting.
"A lot of times when we win it's going to look ugly," said Curtis Blair, the Spiders' junior guard from Roanoke who had 15 second-half points to lead the upset. "We're mostly a half-court team, and the way many of our plays are, we look so slow in maneuvering that it can get helter-skelter."
Richmond's zone not only kept the Hokies from getting as many stickback chances inside - they missed most of those - it also frustrated their desire to run through the Spiders' web.
"The game was filled with errors," Tarrant said. "Both teams played with emotion, but it certainly wasn't very pretty.
The Hokies missed dunks, air-balled 15-foot jumpers and made only 2-of-15 from 3-point range. Richmond played its game at the contest's crucial juncture, and won despite shooting only 40.7 percent.
In the final 1:38, Richmond made only four of 10 free throws, allowing the gang that couldn't shoot straight to stay close. Then, even after the five misses when they were down three, the Hokies threw away a last-gasp inbounds pass.
It was one of those nights when the lesser of two evils won.
Richmond has won seven of eight and must keep surviving these kind of nights if it is to make its sixth postseason appearance in seven years.
The Hokies don't appear to be going anywhere except up I-81 to the Metro Conference Tournament in Roanoke next month - unless it's to shooting practice.
RICHMOND MPFGFTRAFPT Weathers 201-40-06002Wood 377-173-463118Springer 180-40-06110Blair 4010-211-332223Jarmon 152-21-24025Shields 183-43-85149Burroughs 251-10-04632Connolly 230-12-44132Hodges 40-00-01100Totals 20024-5910-2144151661 VA. TECH MPFGFTRAFPT Moses 272-113-48217Rivers 365-120-1142110Wilson 222-60-01014Jackson 222-90-02024Purcell 283-92-43339Wheeler 221-64-65247Williams 192-70-02024Carruth 132-61-27035Elliott 91-54-43026Burton 10-10-00000Corker 10-00-00000Totals 20020-7214-214691956 Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Richmond25-36-61 Virginia Tech30-26-56
Three-point goals - Richmond: Weathers 0-1, Wood 1-1, Blair 2-3, Connolly 0-1, Totals 3-6. Virginia Tech: Moses 0-3, Jackson 0-3, Purcell 1-3, Wheeler 1-4, Williams 0-1, Burton 0-1, Totals 2-15.
Turnovers - Richmond 17 (Burroughs, Connolly 4); Virginia Tech 13 (Rivers 6). Blocked shots - Richmond 3 (Springer 2); Virginia Tech 8 (Carruth 4). Steals - Richmond 5 (five with 1); Virginia Tech 8 (Purcell 3).
Technical fouls - none. Officials - Dodge, Rose, Costabile. Attendance - 4,816.
by CNB