Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992 TAG: 9201120116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
OT WORKS OUT OK (73-72) FOR HOKIES
Erik Wilson thought he was watching a hero on Saturday, not about to become one."I actually expected Jay [Purcell] to make it. I was backing away," said Virginia Tech's Wilson of Purcell's open layup in the final seconds of the Hokies' basketball game against Virginia Commonwealth.
But Purcell's shot bounced off the rim and a surprised Wilson tapped home the rebound with two seconds left as the Hokies beat VCU 73-72 in overtime in front of 4,018 fans at Cassell Coliseum.
Wilson, who played a career-high 37 minutes, sent the game into overtime by making a short bank shot with four seconds left.
Tech's first Metro Conference victory under coach Bill Foster made the Hokies 6-6 overall, 1-1 in the league. The Rams (7-5, 1-1) lost by a point for the fourth time this season - and lost in the last two seconds for the third time.
Tech won despite blowing leads in regulation and overtime. The Hokies led 51-46 with 4:42 to go in regulation but were outscored 9-2 and needed Wilson's shot to survive. In overtime, the Hokies led 70-62 with 1:12 left, but two 3-pointers and Kendrick Warren's layup off a steal in the backcourt gave the Rams a 72-71 lead with 30 seconds left.
Tech had one timeout left, but Purcell dribbled seconds off the clock until bolting down the right side of the lane past VCU's Rod Ladd, then around Wilson and VCU center Sherron Mills.
Wilson's uncontested two-hand tap bailed out Purcell.
"I thought I could get around and get that [layup]," said Mills, who signed with Radford University as a high school senior but was not admitted there. "I was fronting [Wilson]; I knew they were going to try to go inside."
When Purcell's shot went up, Wilson simply turned and had inside position on Mills.
"I didn't have a chance at all to get the rebound," Mills said.
Foster was a relieved, happy man - especially because top scorer Thomas Elliott played only eight minutes before leaving with a sprained ankle. He is listed as probable for Thursday's game at Tulane.
"We had it won twice and let it get away," Foster said. "Had we not gotten it back in regulation or OT, one like that can take the heart out of a young club."
Instead, VCU coach Sonny Smith lost in overtime to Tech for the third straight season despite his team having taken the lead with 18 seconds left in regulation on Eric Atkins' follow shot, and with 30 seconds left in overtime.
"It sounds silly, but this game was won in the first half because we could not get the game out of the ugly stage," Smith said. "We couldn't get it up-tempo.
"We came out [after] halftime and went to a full-court press not Tech's defense held VCU to 40 percent from the field (30-of-75) and forced 18 turnovers. Just as importantly, the Hokies didn't catch the officials' eyes: Tech had nine fouls to VCU's 19, and the Rams shot four free throws to Tech's 26. thinking we'd get the ball from Virginia Tech, but to get our people moving."
It helped, but a mental lapse by the Rams gave Tech a hand. The Hokies, trailing 55-53, called a timeout with 12.3 seconds left in regulation. VCU had only four team fouls in the second half, so it had two to give without giving Tech a free throw. Warren fouled Steve Hall with 9.4 seconds left, forcing Tech to reset.
On Tech's next inbounds play, the ball went from Purcell to Hall to Corey Jackson to Wilson inside without a VCU hack. Wilson scored over Mills.
Smith said Atkins should have fouled Jackson on the wing but didn't because Jackson had the ball above his waist, meaning Jackson could have shot quickly if he saw the foul coming.
"We told them not to foul the shooter," Smith said.
Foster said Tech's ball movement didn't give VCU a chance to foul.
Fouling wasn't a problem in overtime, during which the teams combined for 35 points. After Jackson's five points - including a 3-pointer - helped give Tech a 64-59 lead with 1:59 left, VCU sent Hall to the free-throw line for three straight one-and-ones.
Hall, shooting 62 percent from the line entering the game, made six straight free throws. He finished with a career-high 20 points.
"I knew we needed them, knew they were big," said Hall, who made his first start of the year over Don Corker. "I just took an extra deep breath."
Atkins' jumper made it 70-64, and Purcell missed two free throws with 1:07 left. Then Ladd made a 3-pointer and Jackson made one of two freebies for a 71-67 Tech lead with 49 seconds left.
Mills, 0-of-2 from 3-point range in his collegiate career, hit a long one to make it 71-70 with 40 seconds left. After Tech inbounded, Ladd stole John Rivers' pass and Warren made a twisting reverse layup to give VCU the lead.
It was Warren's 16th point, six below his Metro-leading average. He made seven of 25 field-goal attempts while being guarded mostly by Rivers, who had occasional help from double-teams.
"He played great defense," Warren said, "but I just couldn't buy a basket."
It is becoming a common occurrence for Rivers to quiet an opponent's top forward.
"I got a feel for what type of player he was [by watching films]," Rivers said. "I said to myself, it's time for me to get down and dirty and play some tough `D.' "
Tech's defense held VCU to 40 percent from the field (30-of-75) and forced 18 turnovers. Just as importantly, the Hokies didn't catch the officials' eyes: Tech had nine fouls to VCU's 19, and the Rams shot four free throws to Tech's 26.
There were other notables for Tech: Jackson had 10 points, five in overtime; Jimmy Carruth had a basket and blocked a Warren layup to give Tech a 53-50 lead late in regulation; Wilson had a career-high six assists.
It all helped the Hokies - picked for last in the Metro, one spot behind VCU - reach the .500 mark for the fourth time this season. Foster was asked if he had expected an even record 12 games into the year.
"No way," he said. \
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