Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 26, 1993 TAG: 9301260118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
FLAMES BURN TECH AT THE END
Last year, Liberty blew a late lead at home against Virginia Tech and lost.No such charity this time.
Matt Hildebrand made a top-of-the-key 3-pointer to break a 58-58 tie with 2:28 left, and the Hokies had no answer as the Flames won a non-conference basketball game 71-65 before 4,358 at Cassell Coliseum.
Neither team led by more than three in the second half until Liberty's Parish Hickman made two of three free throws with 1:29 left to give the Flames (10-7) a 63-58 lead.
Liberty has won five straight. Tech lost its second in a row and is 6-6.
Tech's last lead was 57-56 on Shawn Smith's leaning jumper with 4:07 left. Parish Hickman's sweeping hook shot gave LU back the lead with 3:48 left.
Tech's Shawn Good made one of two free throws to tie the score with 2:45 to go. But Hildebrand came around a screen on LU's next possession and swished the shot.
With about 1:40 left, Hildebrand was stripped on a spin move by Elliott, but Hickman picked up the loose ball, and with the shot clock running down, threw up a three. Elliott, off balance after his near-steal, fell into Hickman and the foul was called.
Hickman made two of the three shots, and Tech never challenged again.
Liberty entered the game having won four straight, but had not beaten the Hokies in six all-time tries.
The Flames were trying to achieve a rare feat. Only four teams from the state of Virginia have won in Cassell Coliseum: William and Mary, James Madison, Virginia Commonwealth and Richmond.
Tech freshman Shawn Smith earned the first start of his career, replacing Jimmy Carruth. Smith had been part of a bench that had given Tech 48 percent of its points over the last six games.
Last year, Tech beat Liberty 93-64 at Cassell Coliseum, marking the most points the Hokies have scored under Bill Foster. Tech wasn't in the same offensive mood in Monday's first half, however, and it took a Steve Hall jumper with less than a second left for Tech to tie the Flames at 29 at halftime.
Thomas Elliott led Tech at the break with eight points. Parish Hickman had 12 and Julius Nwosu and Matt Hildebrand eight each for the Flames. Only one other Flame scored in the first half.
Liberty started the game with a 6-0 run, the second straight game the Hokies have started slowly offensively.
But Tech took a 9-8 lead with 14:03 left when Jay Purcell posted up Chris Toomer, hit a turnaround jumper, was fouled and made the free throw.
Tech led 21-17 before a 6-0 run - including back-to-back jumpers by Smith - gave the Hokies a 10-point lead with 5:20 to go.
Liberty, however, scored the next 12 points, including six straight by Matt Hildebrand to start the run.