Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994 TAG: 9403110109
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
"Hmmmm," said Gray, pondering that question after the Tigers' first-round ACC tournament game with North Carolina State. "I guess it was me."
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward took over for foul-plagued Sharone Wright in the post as the Tigers rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to defeat the Wolfpack 76-63.
Eighth-seeded Clemson, victorious in ACC tournament play for only the fourth time since 1978, will meet regular-season champion Duke at 2:30 p.m. today in a quarterfinal at the Charlotte Coliseum.
The Tigers (16-14) don't expect to go far without Wright, a 6-foot-11, second-team All-ACC selection who picked up his third foul with 6 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the first half, but it was no problem Thursday night.
N.C. State (11-19) led 22-15 at the time of Wright's departure and stretched its lead to 28-19 before Clemson scored 15 points in the final 3:22 before halftime to go ahead 34-33.
Coach Cliff Ellis, who improved his ACC tournament record to 3-9, was so pleased with the small lineup that ended the first half that he made no changes to start the second half.
"He said he was going with the group that gave us the momentum," said Wright, who was scoreless in the first half. "I knew I was going to play again."
Ellis said he was prepared to re-insert Wright at the first sign of trouble, but by the time Wright re-entered the game with 13:21 left, the Tigers had built their lead to 48-42.
Within four seconds, Wright had broken his scoring drought with a three-point play, and he finished with 13 points, but the night belonged to Gray, who had game highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a matter of redemption for Gray, who last year was 0-for-15 in Clemson's 69-61 semifinal loss to Georgia Tech.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB