Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Stith scored 27 points and equaled his career-high with 15 rebounds as Virginia beat Florida 62-56 in the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Cavaliers (19-13) will play for the school's second NIT championship against Notre Dame, a 58-55 semifinal winner over Utah, on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Virginia defeated the Irish 83-56 on Jan. 18.
Virginia won the NIT in 1980 when three-time college player of the year Ralph Sampson was a sophomore and UVa coach Jeff Jones was the Cavaliers' starting point guard.
"When we beat New Mexico [in the NIT quarterfinals], I think initially we would be happy with the season and happy with the NIT no matter what happened," said Jones, whose team has won a season-high four straight games, "but the closer you get to the [championship] game, you do not want to lose.
"We did not want to come in here and lose two or take a chance at dropping two. We were not crazy about playing in the consolation game, so winning this helped. Now we're in the championship, and it gets us one game closer to 20 wins."
With Virginia leading 51-50 with 4:29 remaining, Stith scored nine of the Cavaliers' final 11 points.
Stith made two field goals and five of six free throws in the closing four minutes as Virginia outscored Florida 11-6.
He had a hand in 14 of the Cavs' last 16 points by getting assists on Ted Jeffries jump-hook that pulled Virginia to 49-48 at 8:33 and Doug Smith's 3-pointer at 7:13 that gave UVa the lead for good at 51-49.
"My teammates display a lot of confidence in me," said Stith, who has scored 99 points in four NIT games. "They look at me for leadership when it's time for me to shoulder a lot of the burden."
Virginia also got a solid performance from senior guard Anthony Oliver, who scored 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Oliver hadn't scored in double figures in four games.
"Offensively, I decided I was going to attack the basket every chance I got," said Oliver. "I wasn't expecting to be that successful, but I wanted to do something that would help open up things inside."
While Virginia's 41.7 percent didn't burn the nets, it was the Cavaliers fourth straight game of 40 percent shooting since their 24.7 percent showing in an ACC Tournament loss to Georgia Tech.
Defense was the key to the Cavaliers' victory.
Virginia limited Florida (19-13) to 37 percent shooting in the second half.
The Gators scored seven points in the final 10 minutes, including a nearly six-minute scoreless period during which Virginia turned a 49-45 deficit into a 51-49 lead.
"The defense has been the story of our season," said Stith. "That's kept us in games when we haven't shot particularly well, and that happened again tonight."
Leading by two after the 3-pointer by Smith - his first since Feb. 12 - the Cavaliers went without a point for the next three minutes.
During the same span, Florida failed to score on three possessions.
Stacey Poole finally scored for Florida by making a free throw at 4:29.
Stith answered for Virginia by banking in a leaning 10-footer.
After Poole made a baseline jumper to make it 53-52 and Stith missed, Florida had a chance for the lead, 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 pull out the victory.
"It was the type of [game] that went back and forth," said Florida coach Lon Kruger. "Virginia did a better job with the physical play on the boards. They did a great job getting second-shot opportunities, and they had us on our heals at times with their quickness.
"We played well, but they went at it harder and seemed to want it more."
Poole led Florida with 16 points. Defense by Virginia sophomore Cornell Parker limited Poole to 6-for-15 shooting. No other Gator scored in double figures.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB