Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 11, 1993 TAG: 9302110210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
HIGHLANDERS OUTLAST UMBC FOR 88-86 WIN
Radford couldn't rebound, Tom Gallaher couldn't miss, and Maryland-Baltimore couldn't put the ball in the basket in the second half.All that made for an 88-86 Big South Conference basketball victory for the Highlanders that many couldn't explain.
So how did Radford win Wednesday night after being outrebounded 47-27, including 24 offensive rebounds surrendered?
"I guess we picked up the defensive intensity," Radford forward Don Burgess said. "But I'm going to have to think about that. I don't know how we did it because we sure got pounded on the boards."
And why couldn't first-year conference member UMBC (7-13 overall, 4-7 Big South) make better use of all those offensive rebounds? The Retrievers went 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) in the second half while shooting frequently from point-blank range.
"You'd hope to be a little more efficient in the paint," UMBC coach Earl Hawkins said. "But . . . we've been very inconsistent."
And what about Gallaher? Four nights ago, the Radford senior banged more iron than a blacksmith as the Highlanders were whacking Winthrop. Against UMBC, he tied a school record by going 10-of-10 (1-of-1 from the line) for 21 points.
"It is kind of strange that I follow one of the worst nights I've had in a long while with my best," he said.
Radford (12-12, 6-5) couldn't shake the Retrievers. The Highlanders led 77-69 when Gallaher muscled in a layup and converted a three-point play with 5:29 left. But Radford let that lead slip away and UMBC was back even at 78 with 3:53 left.
Radford never led by more the four the rest of the way and victory was nailed down when Doug Day sank a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left.
\ see microfilm for box score
Memo: longer version ran in the New River Valley edition.