Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Stith scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Virginia defeated Florida 62-56 in the semifinal of the National Invitational Tournament on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
With Virginia leading 51-50 with 4:29 remaining, Stith scored nine of the Cavaliers' final 11 points.
The Cavaliers (19-13) will play for the school's second NIT championship against the winner of the Notre Dame-Utah semifinal on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Virginia won the NIT in 1980 when All-America center Ralph Sampson was the most valuable player and Cavaliers coach Jeff Jones was UVa's starting point guard.
The Cavaliers went scoreless for nearly three minutes Monday night, but Florida was without a point almost six minutes and the Cavaliers led 51-49 with less than five minutes left.
After being fouled by Anthony Oliver, Stacey Poole ended Florida's scoring drought by making a free throw to pull the Gators to 51-50 at 4:29.
Stith answered by banking in a leaning 10-footer.
Poole made a baseline jumper to make it 53-52, and Florida had a chance for the lead after Stith missed, but the Gators turned the ball over.
Stith then made two free throws, followed by a baseline jumper that put the Cavs up 57-52 with 1:57 remaining.
Virginia made six of eight free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory. Oliver added 15 points for Virginia.
Neither team shot well. Florida scored seven points in the final 10 minutes and shot 37 percent in the second half.
Poole led the Gators with 16 points.
Cory Alexander made two free throws with 36.6 seconds remaining to give Virginia a 33-31 lead at halftime.
Florida had a chance to tie when Craig Brown left Oliver at the 3-point arc and drove to the basket, but Junior Burrough blocked Brown's layup attempt with 1.5 seconds left.
Stith paced Virginia's first-half scoring with 13 points and Oliver added 10. The Cavaliers shot 36.1 percent (13-for-36) for the half.
Florida also made 13 field goals.
Led by Stith with four, Virginia had 12 offensive rebounds and took nine more field-goal attempts than Florida.
Poole led Florida with seven first-half points. Andrew DeClercq scored six but played just six minutes because he picked up three personal fouls.
The Gators led 19-14 on a follow basket by Svein Dyrkolbotn with about 11 minutes left, then went scoreless for nearly five minutes.
Oliver made an 18-footer, Burrough slipped down the baseline for a lay up and Stith made a free throw as the Cavaliers tied the score at 8:45.
Neither team scored in the next minute, but Poole made a free throw to put Florida up 20-19.
Stith, who had 10 rebounds in the first half, made follow baskets on consecutive UVa possessions to put the Cavaliers up 23-20, but Brian Hogan tied the score with a 3-pointer.
The teams traded baskets and after Oliver made a 10-footer, Scott Stewart put Florida up one with a 3-pointer.
Oliver scored, but Dan Cross tied the score at 29 with a free throw.
Stith made a jumper for Virginia and Craig Brown scored for Florida before Alexander made his two free throws. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB