Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102070312
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
North Carolina's veteran coach, with an absurdity of riches on the bench, has resurrected his blue team this season, a group of five reserves who play as a unit.
Against inspired North Carolina State, the blue team was outscored 9-0 in just over two minutes of the first half, and ninth-rated North Carolina never led again.
Thanks to a jump ball forced by Chris Corchiani, free throws by 37-point scorer Rodney Monroe and the overall brilliance of Tom Gugliotta, N.C. State held on to win 97-91 in the opener of a back-to-back series.
The ACC teams play again in Chapel Hill tonight.
Although it took some late clutch plays by N.C. State (12-6 overall, 5-3 in the ACC, 10-0 at home), it was that outburst in the first half that gave the Wolfpack a working margin it never lost.
N.C. State had just tied the score at 22 on a three-pointer by Monroe, one of 26 between the two arch rivals in 48 shots.
Then came a TV timeout, and Smith sent in the blue team. They played 2:09, and before Smith could get them out, the Wolfpack had hit three baskets and Carolina had made three turnovers.
N.C. State continued its run against the regulars, grabbing a 40-24 lead by outscoring Carolina (15-4, 4-3) by 21-2. Monroe got 13 of the points.
"I left them in," Smith said of the blue team. "That was totally my fault. They're a good group." And, typically Smith, he added, "The way State was shooting, they may have gotten the baskets against our first team."
The Wolfpack led the rest of the way. It was 53-46 at halftime as Gugliotta, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
N.C. State was still ahead, 82-71, at the TV break with 3:48 left. But then Carolina began a 3-point barrage, making seven.
The last of them, by Hubert Davis with 55 seconds left, cut the deficit to 92-91, but Monroe answered with two free throws.
As the Tar Heels brought the ball up the court, looking for the tying three points, Corchiani smacked the ball loose from Rick Fox near midcourt and Migjen Bakalli forced the jump ball with a frantic dive. The arrow pointed State's way and it was a huge turnover.
"Coach [Les] Robinson said we needed the big play," said Corchiani. "I just tried to go after the ball. When we got the tie-up, I knew it was our ball."
Corchiani then made one of two free throws, and, seconds later and three misses from long range by the Tar Heels, N.C. State had its upset.
"That was an incredible display of three-point shooting," Robinson said. "It was just a gutty performance by our guys."
UNCMPFGFTRAFPT Lynch225-112- 481413Fox348-170- 027322Chilcutt327-103- 453319Rice283- 70- 011018Davis267-120- 242317Montross171- 32- 24004Rodl112- 20- 00214Rozier50- 00- 01210Phelps91- 10- 01332Sullivan30- 00- 00000Harris30- 00- 00000Reese41- 10- 00012Salvadori30- 00- 00000Wenstrom30- 00- 00000Totals20035-647-1231302091 N.C.ST.MPFGFTRAFPT Gugliotta4010-143- 5104428Feggins335- 81- 232211K.Thompson383- 51- 48237Corchiani373- 83- 4112210Monroe4012-247- 742237Bakalli121- 32- 20114Totals20034-6217-2428231497N. Carolina4546-91 N.C.State5344-97
Three-point goals- North Carolina 14-25 (Lynch 1-1, Fox 6-14, Chilcutt 2-2, Rice 2-3, Davis 3-5), N.C. State 12-23 (Gugliotta 5-8, Corchiani 1-3, Monroe 6-11, Bakalli 0-1). Turnovers- North Carolina 17, N.C. State 11. Technical fouls- None. Officials- Donaghy, Gray, Crowley. Attendance- 12,400.
by CNB