Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 14, 1993 TAG: 9303140185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY. LENGTH: Medium
SEASON OVER FOR HOKIES
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH reached the Metro Conference Tournament final with an 85-71 victory over Virginia Tech. The Hokies finished 10-19, one loss worse than in Bill Foster's first year as coach last season. \Kenny Harris could earn a medical degree for the skill of his surgery on Virginia Tech.
The Virginia Commonwealth guard excised the Hokies from the Metro Conference Tournament as VCU won the semifinal basketball game 85-71 Saturday at Freedom Hall.
Harris, who has blossomed since Rams' star Kendrick Warren was hurt last month, had 21 points, nine assists and no turnovers in 35 minutes. VCU (20-8) advanced to the Metro final to face the Louisville-UNC Charlotte winner at 1 p.m. today (WJPR Channels 21/27).
On Friday, the seventh-seeded Hokies became the second last-place team in the past three years to win a first-round Metro Tournament game. However, the Hokies, league members since 1978-79, lost for the fifth time in the Metro semifinals when they couldn't stop Harris or Sherron Mills.
The Hokies finished 10-19, one more loss than in Bill Foster's first year as coach last season, but by winning Friday they avoided winning fewer than 10 games for the first time since 1954-55.
Tech made 49 percent of its shots from the field (28-of-57) and 10 of 21 3-pointers, but had 18 turnovers, attempted only eight free throws and was outrebounded 36-25. VCU made 31 of 57 shots, including eight of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc.
"When they see maroon, I guess their eyes light up," Foster said.
None more than Harris, the 6-foot-1 junior point guard who had 41 points, 32 assists and no turnovers in three games against Tech this year.
"I wish I played Virginia Tech all the time," he said, laughing. "They don't really put a lot of pressure on you full-court, and the guys were hitting their shots tonight."
The win strengthened VCU's hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament if it doesn't win today. Rams coach Sonny Smith thinks his team is in, but wonders.
"I wish somebody would mention us," he said, referring to the televised guessing about the 64-team field. "My mother hasn't even mentioned us."
The Rams could use some motherly care, what with Mills, Chris Brower and Eugene Kissourine battling the flu. None has practiced since VCU played at Tulane on March 4. Still, Mills had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kissourine added eight points and eight rebounds to help the Rams control the inside game.
Thirty-eight of Tech's 66 points from the floor came from outside 15 feet. Jay Purcell made five of seven 3-pointers.
"They just doubled down and collapsed in the post," Purcell said. "The wing guys just spotted up outside."
However, just like in VCU's 86-69 victory over Tech on Feb. 22, the Rams knew Tech wouldn't shoot its way to a win.
"We figured they could beat us inside, because we've only got three post men," Smith said. "We figured if they shot threes, there ain't no way they're gonna foul us out."
Foster pointed to two VCU runs that kept Tech at bay. In the first half, Shawn Good's 3-pointer in transition made it 33-31, VCU, with 3:42 left. However, the Rams outscored Tech 9-2 the rest of the way, including Harris' 3-pointer over Purcell to end the half.
Tech's Jim Jackson missed two 3-pointers and had a turnover in that stretch.
VCU led off the second half with a 12-5 spurt, getting two 3-pointers from Terrence Gibson as Tech went 2-of-7 from the field.
"We had some careless turnovers that really hurt us," Foster said. "We secured the rebound and coughed it up."
Nevertheless, Good's 3-pointer off an inbounds pass pulled Tech to 62-57 with nine minutes left. However, two free throws by Kissourine, a forced miss by Corey Jackson and a missed 3-pointer by Damon Watlington prefaced a 3-pointer by Tyron McCoy to put VCU ahead 67-57 with 7:22 left.
Tech cut it to seven once after that, 73-66 with 2:07 left on a Purcell 3-pointer, and the Hokies got the ball trailing 74-66. Purcell then was forced to pick up his dribble up top, and his long-bounced entry pass into the lane was stolen and McCoy got a layup.
It was the first time Tech faced an in-state team in postseason since the Hokies beat William and Mary in the 1983 National Invitation Tournament. The Hokies failed to become the second bottom-seeded team to reach the Metro Tournament final, which Louisville did in Roanoke in 1991.
"We just couldn't quite get it done," Foster said. "We had four or five possessions late in the [first] half when we came down and didn't get a good shot. It all boiled down to shooting." \
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