Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 9, 1991 TAG: 9103090285
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Those who wondered whether Virginia Tech's newfound competence could continue against Florida State began leaving shortly after Graham's second-half scoring barrage helped FSU rout Tech 91-71 in a Metro Conference tournament semifinal game Friday at the Roanoke Civic Center.
"Too many weapons," Tech coach Frankie Allen said of FSU.
How hot did FSU get? The Seminoles shot 65 percent from the field - a Metro tournament record. And consider that Tech opened the second half with a 12-0 run and still was outscored in the second half until about one minute remained.
Graham, a 6-3 sophomore guard, made hit all seven field goals he attempted in the second half and finished with 23 points. In one stretch, he scored 17 of 21 FSU points as the Seminoles stretched a 56-43 lead to 76-52 with about nine minutes left.
"I had flashes like that this year, but I never really came out and shot the ball like I shot the ball tonight," Graham said.
The Hokies, who had won five of seven games before Friday, were trying to advance to the Metro's championship game for the first time since the 1984 team lost to Memphis State 78-65. It was Tech's first semifinal appearance since that year.
Tech finished 13-16 in coach Frankie Allen's fourth year. He has one year left on his contract, and Tech is expected to recommend soon whether to retain Allen as coach for next year.
The Seminoles, who have won seven of their last eight games, weren't as likely an upset victim for Tech as slumping Cincinnati was on Thursday.
"I hope tonight was a clincher," said FSU coach Pat Kennedy, who hopes his team's 19-10 record assures it of an NCAA bid even if the Seminoles lose to Louisville in the championship game tonight. "You couldn't be peaking any more than we are."
Kennedy said the Seminoles watched how Tech dissected Cincinnati's zone and presses Thursday and planned accordingly.
"We just had no question in our minds, it had to be straight man to man," Kennedy said. "We had to challenge every shot, and challenge every dribble."
Tech shot just 41 percent from the field, and only one Hokie other than Antony Moses had more than one field goal. Moses finished a resurgent senior year by scoring 32 points on 13-for-20 field goal shooting; the rest of the team was 9-for-34 from the field.
Moses never had averaged more than 6.1 points per game for Tech in his first three years, but finished his final year averaging more than 15 points per game.
"I came out to play as hard as I could and give my all," Moses said of his last year. "I couldn't do no more than that."
Tech seemingly was helpless after entering halftime trailing by 20. But a 12-0 run, sparked by Rod Wheeler's seven points and Moses' five, made it 49-41 FSU.
But Rodney Dobard and Doug Edwards each hit two free throws, and Edwards hit a 3-pointer for a 56-43 FSU lead.
Florida State will make its sixth Metro title game appearance. The Seminoles, headed for the ACC next season, are 0-5 in Metro tournament championship games.
Tech went nine minutes without a field goal in the first half and fell behind 49-29.
Tech made just six of 24 field goals in the first half; four of those were by Moses. The rest of the team shot 1-of-14 from the field.
Florida State, meanwhile, hit 12 of its first 19 field goals, and had an 8-0 run that increased a 13-9 lead to 21-9. Only Tech's 14-for-18 performance from the free-throw line kept FSU's lead from being larger.
Tech trailed by 17, 35-18, but cut the margin to 36-24 with four free throws from Jimmy Carruth and two from Thomas Elliott. But Jay Purcell missed two free throws, and FSU's Jesse Salters made a short turnaround jumper to make it 38-24 Seminoles.
FSU led 40-27 when Charlie Ward stole a cross-court pass from Tech and went all the way for a layup. Graham then stole the ball from Purcell, and Michael Polite hit a 3-pointer for a 45-27 FSU lead.
Purcell's driving layup made it 45-29 with 1:01 left - and was Tech's first field goal since Moses' layup with 10:08 remaining. Edwards hit two free throws and, after Purcell missed a 3-pointer, Ward drove the middle for a scoop shot to give FSU its 49-29 halftime lead.
FOR INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SCORING, SEE MICROFILM.
Three-point goals - Virginia Tech: Moses 5-6, Elliott 1-3, Wheeler 1-4, Purcell 0-2, Burton 1-2, Totals 8-17. Florida State: Edwards 1-1, Polite 1-1, Boyd 0-2, Graham 3-5, Totals 5-9.
Turnovers - Virginia Tech 18 (Wheeler 5); Florida State 16 (Reid, Ward 3). Blocked shots - Virginia Tech 0; Florida State 6 (Edwards, Dobard 3). Steals - Virginia Tech 5 (5 with 1); Florida State 10 (Ward 5).
Technical fouls - Edwards. Officials - Chrisman, O'Neil, Jag. Attendance - 7,569.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB