Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 19, 1994 TAG: 9401190172
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Tuesday, the groove struck Virginia Tech's basketball team in the second half.
"We just let the rhythm hit us," Carruth said.
Liberty couldn't keep step. Tech, which trailed by as many as five points in the first half and led by only two at halftime, watered the Flames with a 12-0 run in the second half en route to an 81-65 non-conference victory before a crowd of 6,008 at Cassell Coliseum.
Carruth contributed, blocking three shots and altering another in the first three minutes of the second half to keep Tech ahead.
Carruth's backup, Shawn Smith, entered the game and quickened the Hokies' beat, scoring eight points - six on back-to-back 3-point shots - and assisting on another basket in Tech's 12-0 run that gave the Hokies a 53-39 lead with 12 minutes, 2 seconds left.
When that run was over, so was the game. Liberty closed to 53-40 before Jim Jackson's three-point play made it 56-40, and the Hokies led by fewer than 15 points only once thereafter.
Tech avenged last year's home-court loss to the Flames, but not without effort. Liberty shot 54.2 percent in the first half and led most of that time.
"It took our guys a half to find out Liberty was for real again," said Bill Foster, the Hokies' coach. "They should've learned that last year. We've had some good second halves. We're capable of doing a lot of good things if we play quickly but don't hurry."
Tech trotted to an 11-2 record by winning its sixth straight game at home this year. Liberty (5-7) lost for the sixth time in its past eight games, a stretch that included James Madison and Virginia.
Nevertheless, Liberty coach Jeff Meyer said, "I think it's coming. We're getting better."
Tech reserve guard Damon Watlington helped make sure nothing arrived for LU on Tuesday, leading five Hokies in double figures with a career-high 18 points. Smith finished with 13 and Carruth added 10, the first time since Feb. 24 (career-high 17 at West Virginia) he has hit double figures.
Besides all that, Tech won because it crushed Liberty and its three-guard lineup on the boards, 45-27, and held Liberty guard Matt Hildebrand to two second-half points on a pair of free throws.
Tech's first eight second-half points came on or after offensive rebounds. Hildebrand had scored 20 or more points in five straight games and had 11 at halftime. Tech's Jay Purcell tightened up in the second half.
"Purcell did a great job," said Hildebrand, who had 23 against Tech last year. "I think I need to step up in situations, and tonight I didn't do that."
The Hokies, winners of seven of their past eight, trailed 26-21 with 4:26 left in the first half on Darryl Williams' turnaround jumper.
But Tech scored six straight points - an Ace Custis finger-roll, a Jim Jackson layup after a Shawn Good steal, and Carruth's turnaround after an LU turnover - and took a 27-26 lead with 2:40 left.
Liberty got back on top 31-29 before Purcell dropped in a driving finger roll and free throw for a 32-31 Tech lead; Purcell followed 30 seconds later with a 3-pointer before Hildebrand scored to send Tech to the half with a 35-33 edge. The Hokies didn't take off in the second half for about five minutes, a stretch that included Custis receiving a technical foul for pushing Liberty's Jody Chapman, who Custis claimed had tried to trip him on the way upcourt.
Tech led 41-39 after Peter Aluma's inside shot, but Custis' follow shot made it 43-39.
Aluma airballed a six-footer, and Smith trailed Tech's break and hit a wide-open 3-pointer for a 46-39 Tech lead with 13:40 left.
Liberty's Brett Anthony missed, and Tech called for Purcell to post up his man. He did, but tossed out to arc-hanging Smith, who hit again for a 49-39 Tech edge at 13:05.
"I felt kind of good about the first one, so I said I might as well try this one, too," Smith said.
Aluma missed a hook, and Smith drew a foul on Jason Dixon and made two free throws. Smith then stripped Dixon in the post; at the other end, Smith passed low to Custis for a dunk and a 53-39 Tech lead with 11:59 to go.
The Hokies led by as many as 24.
"We tried to `D' up and let the offense come [in the second half]," Watlington said.
by CNB