Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 10, 1994 TAG: 9401100109
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FORT WORTH, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
But Texas Christian couldn't force the Hokies to lose a basketball game.
Six-foot-six center Shawn Smith scored five of the Hokies' last six points as Tech won its sixth straight game 69-65 over TCU, which had cut a 16-point deficit to one three times in the last 2:04.
Tech's triplicate of responses was two Jim Jackson free throws, a turnaround jumper by Smith with less than five seconds on the shot clock and two Smith free throws with 18.7 seconds left.
The Hokies equaled their victory total of each of the past two seasons and became the eighth Tech team to begin a season 10-1.
Three days after making a school-record 12 3-pointers but blowing an 18-point lead and losing to Oral Roberts, TCU (3-8) shot 38 percent before 3,171 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Tech coach Bill Foster said he could feel some low vibes before the game.
"I told my staff, we've got a couple games coming during the year when our guys are going to go out and play without a lot of focus," he said. "This was one of 'em."
Tech survived, however, just like it survived a five-minute scoreless stretch in the first half and a 9-0 TCU run to begin the second half that cut Tech's 34-18 halftime lead to 34-27.
Tech answered that run with three 3-pointers, one on a pullup by Jay Purcell and two on kick-outs from Ace Custis to Damon Watlington and Jim Jackson.
The Hokies held steady until they were goosed by TCU's press late in the game. Tech led 54-38 and was ahead 61-50 with 3:46 left.
But the Horned Frogs scored 10 straight points, getting five from Jentry Moore - the last two on a layup after Purcell tried to dribble through his legs against a backcourt double-team and had the ball stolen.
However, 6-9 center Kurt Thomas - the Southwest Conference's leading scorer, who was playing with a broken left hand - made only one of two free throws with a chance to tie it at 61 with 2:04 left.
"That's key," said TCU coach Moe Iba, whose team was without 6-6 starting forward Eric Dailey, who is averaging 10 points and 7.8 rebounds per game but has a sprained right ankle.
Jackson's two free throws gave Tech a 63-60 lead with 1:53 left, but Thomas copied him and made it 63-62 with 1:41 to go.
Then came Smith's left baseline 8-foot turnaround over 6-9 Byron Waits.
"I knew the only thing I could do was go ahead and go to the hole," Smith said.
That's more than TCU managed on two of its next three possessions. Chris Foreman airballed a 14-foot jumper when he couldn't find anyone to pass to, and Purcell made one of two free throws for a 66-62 Hokies lead with 34 seconds left.
Thomas then passed out of a double-team to open Russell Watson, whose left-wing 3-pointer made it 66-65 Tech with 20 seconds left.
Smith was fouled on the inbounds play and made both free throws. TCU came down looking for an open 3-pointer but got only Thomas' off-balance heave with five seconds left after freshman guard Matt Akridge passed it to him.
"I thought [Akridge] had a shot but didn't take it," Iba said.
Smith rebounded Thomas' miss, was fouled and made one of two free throws as Tech won the first meeting between the schools. The series continues next year in Blacksburg.
"I don't think our kids ever thought they'd lose," Foster said. "That's a great feeling."
The Hokies weren't so happy about what they thought were tight calls from the big-name officiating crew of Dick Paparo, Ed Hightower and Gerry Donaghy, but Purcell gave himself a lashing, too.
"I had too many . . . turnovers," said Purcell, who had six.
by CNB