Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992 TAG: 9203030166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: GREENVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
"It hurts to have one won and give it away," Hokies coach Bill Foster said.
Virginia Tech blew a 10-point lead with 3 1/2 minutes left against East Carolina, then missed three free throws in overtime and saw ECU freshman Anton Gill hit a baseline jumper with four seconds left to give the Pirates a 78-76 non-conference college basketball victory.
The Hokies fell to 10-16 with one regular-season game left. ECU finished its regular season 10-17 by winning its seniors' last home game.
Foster and the Hokies were irked about more than ECU's comeback. After Gill's shot, Tech called time out with two seconds left. John Rivers' long inbounds pass found Corey Jackson about 30 feet from Tech's basket. Jackson turned and tried to lean past ECU's James Lewis for a 3-pointer.
The shot was well short, Jackson hit the floor and Tech's bench hollered foul.
"He did," Jackson said when asked if Lewis fouled him.
"I don't think there's any question about it," Foster said. "I'd like to see him try the three free throws and see how it comes out. He didn't just wind up on the floor."
Yes he did, said Lewis.
"I don't think so," he said when asked if he hacked Jackson. "He kind of leaned into me. I just went up and made sure to make him have a tough shot."
The play ended a quirky game that saw East Carolina have runs of 18-0 and 8-0 in the second half, while Tech's Jackson single-handedly scored seven points on one trip down the floor in the second half: A jump shot and free throw, a technical foul free throw and a 3-pointer that gave the Hokies a 50-36 lead, their biggest of the game, with 16:53 left.
But the Pirates scored the next 18 points over more than seven minutes. It was eerily like the 10-minute scoring drought Tech suffered in the teams' first game this year, a 57-44 Hokie victory.
Tech had been peppering ECU's zone. Steve Hall had a lot of fun in the first half, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 19 points. But ECU eventually came out of the zone and Tech was less effective.
"It gave us a little life," ECU coach Eddie Payne said.
Trailing 54-50 after the Pirates' streak, Tech outscored ECU 21-7 over the next six minutes. Jackson had eight in the run.
But East Carolina started pressing, and Tech started wilting. Hokie turnovers and ECU offensive rebounds killed Tech. Ahead 71-65, Tech erred on an inbounds play when Rivers overthrew Hall.
Ronnell Peterson missed a 3-pointer and, three follow shots later, Curley Young was blocked by Rivers. ECU controlled, though, and Robin House drove, missed a lefty scoop shot but scored on a put-back. Tech led 71-67 with 1:25 left.
Rivers inbounded again and tried to hit Hall, who was fronted by Peterson - but Peterson snared the ball and tossed to Gill for a layup with 1:19 left and the score was 71-69.
Tech finally inbounded and, on its end, Jay Purcell was fouled and made both free throws for a 73-69 Hokie edge with 39 ticks left. For ECU, Gill was fouled after an offensive rebound and made one of two - but House grabbed the long rebound, ECU reset, Young missed a 3-pointer, Peterson rebounded, threw to house, and he buried a 23-foot trey with 19 seconds left.
Purcell missed a leaner to force overtime.
Tech took a 75-73 lead in OT as Purcell and Don Corker went a combined 2-for-4 from the line. But another House 3-pointer gave ECU the lead with 3:04 left.
Gill missed a pair of free throws with 1:57 to go, and Jackson made one of two to tie it with 26 seconds left.
Then Gill, against Erik Wilson, dribbled to the right baseline, pump-faked, absorbed some contact and tossed up a fallaway that swished.
Hall helped the Hokies win the first-half shooting spree, scoring 16 points as Tech took a 38-34 lead at the break. At one point, the teams combined for nine straight 3-point attempts; the string was broken only by a Hokie tip-in attempt when Hall missed a 3-pointer.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB