Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 26, 1993 TAG: 9302260156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MARLINS UPEND WASPS IN OT
Virginia Wesleyan forward Walt Lassiter said he doesn't consider himself a clutch performer.Perhaps his self-image might change if he watched a tape of the Marlins' Thursday night clash with Emory & Henry.
Lassiter, a sophomore, scored 38 points, including 26 after halftime, as Virginia Wesleyan toppled the top-seeded Wasps 90-76 in overtime in the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
After two straight semifinal losses at the Salem Civic Center, the Marlins will advance this season to the tournament final on Saturday against Randolph-Macon, a 60-59 winner over Roanoke.
"I'm not usually a clutch player, but I guess I was tonight," said Lassiter, who had 13 rebounds.
Lassiter was 4-of-4 from 3-point range, including 2-of-2 in the final 44 seconds of regulation as the Marlins rallied from six points down. Emory & Henry missed two free throws in the last minute and Lassiter made two with 5.9 seconds remaining to force overtime at 73-73.
Lassiter scored 15 of his team's final 19 points in regulation. He made two free throws in overtime to start a 15-1 run that swamped the Wasps, and he added his fourth 3-pointer at the buzzer to finish it.
"I didn't want to go home yet," said Lassiter, who was 0-of-10 from 3-point range in an earlier loss to E&H.
Virginia Wesleyan is 2-1 this season against Emory (22-4), which is tied for first in the South Region rankings.
"This is a great win for our program," Marlins' coach Terry Butterfield said. "We've gone home early the past two years and now we got a win in the civic center."
Rick Chalk added 18 points for Virginia Wesleyan (18-8), David Amston had 12 and Marshawn Love had 10.
Derek Elmore, the senior from Roanoke, led Emory with 20 points. Teddy Gibson added 14. \
see microfilm for box score