Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994                   TAG: 9402240267
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

INDIANS USE 11-0 RUN TO SUBDUE RADFORD

Perdue, Blacksburg's resident defensive whiz, seemed almost apologetic after he hit two clutch 3-pointers in the Indians' 54-43 survival of Radford in the first round of the New River District boys' basketball tournament Wednesday night.

"I didn't want to have to shoot it," said Perdue, a guard. ". . . But we were having trouble getting it inside . . . I thought `What the heck,' and started putting it up."

Perdue's second 3-pointer of the final period, his third of the game, sparked a 11-0 run that helped top-seeded Blacksburg (10-7) free itself from the pesky Bobcats and win its 31st game over district opposition. The Indians advanced to Friday night's championship game against the winner of today's Christiansburg-Carroll County matchup.

With Radford (4-17), seeded fourth in the tournament, entrenched in a 3-2 zone that kept the ball out of the hands of Blacksburg's big men, Perdue, who finished with 14 points after being inserted to lead the Indians' press, sank a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 41 seconds left.

"They were packing it in the lane and giving me the three," said Perdue.

Blacksburg made seven 3-pointers, six in the second half. Rather than let Blacksburg's post players - Ben Araman, Jay Safford and Tony Wheeler - run rampant inside, Radford stayed in the zone for most of the night.

Blacksburg, coming off a hard-fought win over Christiansburg that clinched its fourth straight New River District regular-season title Monday night, was shackled in the first half. The score was 6-6 after a quarter, and the Indians led 17-13 at halftime.

"It was hard to get back into it after Monday night," said Blacksburg coach Bob Trear. "Radford did a good job. They just backed it in and backed it in against us."

Radford trailed 27-20 in the third period before fighting back, closing to one point down.

Wheeler finished with 15 points.

Casey Underwood led Radford with 13 points. Ryan Brittle scored 12 for Radford, which closed Rick Cormany's first season as coach with its eighth straight defeat.

"We were in close games but we always found a way to lose them down the stretch," said Cormany. "Give our kids credit for throwing a scare in 'em."

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