Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 24, 1993 TAG: 9302240242
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
JACKETS STING UVA AGAIN
Georgia Tech's Yellow Jackets continue to buzz in the basketball bonnet of Virginia coach Jeff Jones.In his three seasons as coach of the Cavaliers, Jones has seen his team gain an NCAA Tournament berth, an NIT title and a season sweep of the defending national champion. He has yet to see his team score more points than ACC mate Georgia Tech.
Tuesday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Georgia Tech sophomore point guard Travis Best scored 16 second-half points - while the Cavaliers' offense fizzled - as the Yellow Jackets zapped UVa 73-61.
It was Georgia Tech's eighth straight victory over Virginia, the past seven during Jones' reign.
UVa shot 23-for-61 (37.7 percent) from the field and committed 16 turnovers in what Jones said he felt was a winnable game.
"I think the best term for our offensive performance is `pathetic,' " Jones said. "On a night when Georgia Tech was struggling, we didn't shoot well and we had careless turnovers. There's no way our minds were on the game.
"We looked like we had never practiced. You can't be a good basketball team, certainly not one with postseason aspirations, and be that lax with the basketball and sling it around like you are playing in the schoolyard."
Jason Williford's 3-pointer with 14:03 remaining gave Virginia (16-7 overall, 8-6 ACC) a 46-43 lead. It was the only 3-pointer UVa made in 11 second-half attempts.
Best answered with 3-pointer that tied the score and, after 12 seconds and a UVa turnover, freshman Martice Moore stuck a baseline 3-pointer to give the Jackets the lead for good, 49-46.
Best sank three of his four 3-pointers in the second half on his way to a game-high 26 points. He also had eight assists.
"Best . . . he's really amazing," Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said. "The kid comes through when you need him the most."
After Best's third 3-pointer gave the Yellow Jackets a 58-51 lead with 5:13 to play, UVa cut its deficit to 60-55 on two Williford free throws with 2:56 remaining.
Then Georgia Tech (15-8, 7-6) made 11 of 13 free throws in the final 1:54 to ward off the Cavaliers. Virginia was 8-of-15 from the line, including 4-of-9 after halftime. Cory Alexander, who was leading the ACC in free-throw percentage in league games (84.9 percent), made three of eight.
"Other than Travis Best, who was outstanding, I can't think of many baskets by any of their other players that weren't the result of our poor offensive play," Jones said. "That's the difference in the game - our poor offensive performance and Best stepping up and showing what kind of player he is."
Best said: "The last couple of years, whenever we play Virginia, we need a big win and we're ready to play. We have a young team and sometimes we need people to step up and play with more intensity. That's what I tried to do."
Virginia trailed 38-34 at halftime and kept close with 6-of-13 3-point shooting. Alexander and Cornel Parker each made two from long range for the Cavs, but UVa shot 11-of-31 overall in the second half.
"When I don't shoot well, sometimes it's contagious," said Alexander, who had 15 points but was 5-of-15 from the floor. "We have to value each possession more and finish plays.
"My class has never beaten Tech and Cornel's hasn't, either," Alexander said. "Whenever those guys come around, we don't perform like we're supposed to."
In his past two games, Alexander is 9-of-29 on field-goal attempts.
Malcolm Mackey had 15 points for Georgia Tech, James Forrest added 13 and Drew Barry had 11.
Virginia has not shot above 40 percent in three straight games. Georgia Tech zoned the cold Cavs for most of the game.
"We're not shooting well, and there's a lot of bad passes and bad decisions on everybody's part," Parker said. "It's a lot about effort, too. I've got a feeling the next practice won't be light."
Jones agreed.
"As far as I'm concerned," he said, "we should go back and practice for three or four hours. We're going to find out who is willing to take care of the basketball."
Burrough scored 11 points for Virginia and Williford added 10. Parker had eight points and 12 rebounds.