Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 28, 1994 TAG: 9411290054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies hung tight in a sometimes-ragged game, trailing by three with about six minutes left, before the Illini's inside-outside game lifted them to an 85-75 victory in the Puerto Rico Shootout men's basketball championship game at Eugenio Guerra Coliseum.
Tech made 13 of 23 free throws and could not consistently hit an open outside jumper. Shooting guard Damon Watlington was 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-8 from 3-point range.
The Hokies (2-1) pulled to 68-65 behind Shawn Smith's spin move inside with 6 minutes, 12 seconds left, but Tech, playing only seven players and suffering through foul trouble, had reached its limit.
The Illini, which had been pounding Tech in the paint most of the second half, went outside to put it away.
Kiwane Garris hit an open 3-pointer after swift ball reversal by Illinois, which led 71-65 with 5:55 left, and Smith missed a hook shot. Then, Tech's David Jackson sagged inside off freshman Brian Johnson, who sank a 3-pointer that made it a 74-65 Illinois lead with 5:15 to go.
Tech got no closer than seven after that in failing to win its 12th regular-season tournament title in 51 tries.
``We just missed too many easy shots,'' said Bill Foster, the Hokies' coach. ``We missed enough free throws to win the game. It was almost like a game where I wished there weren't so many shots. We've got to shoot the ball better against a team that talented.''
Garris finished with 27 points to lead four Illini in double figures. Smith had 25 for Tech, and Ace Custis posted his third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Illinois began a season 3-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 team opened 11-0, and it became the first No.1 seed to win the Puerto Rico Shootout in its eight years. Tech was seeded third.
The Hokies trailed 43-37 at halftime, a victim of 2-for-8 free-throw shooting and Illini sophomore guard Garris' three 3-pointers and his brutish drives down the lane.
Garris, one of 10 freshmen or sophomores on Illinois' 12-man roster here, had 17 first-half points.
The Hokies led once, 17-16 with 10:16 left on Custis' turnaround jumper. Two Jerry Gee free throws put Illinois back ahead. Custis made one of two free throws to tie it before Garris hit a 3-pointer over Jackson to forge a 23-20 Illinois lead with 7:35 left.
Another Garris 3-pointer made it 32-24, and he scored Illinois' last six points of the half as a result of overpowering Tech guards Myron Guillory and Watlington in the lane.
Tech solved the Garris problem for a while in the second half by putting a stronger guard, Shawn Good, on him. But the Hokies' offense trudged out to start the half - Smith missed a dunk, Good missed a jumper, Good was called for a five-second violation on an inbounds play and Watlington missed a 3-pointer.
Until Custis' two free throws made it 64-60 with 7:56 left, Tech could not cut Illinois' margin under five, thanks to the Illini's tough inside game, led by 6-foot-6 sophomore Jerry Hester (15 points) and 6-7 freshman Gee (12 points).
On this trip, Gee replaced 6-9 starter Shelly Clark, who is serving a five-game suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.
With 7:20 left, Tech went to a 2-3 zone, in part because Good and David Jackson each had four fouls. After one turnover, Illinois got an 18-footer from Garris to make it 68-63 with 6:34 to go. When the Hokies switched back to man-to-man, Illinois found the open man and pulled away.
Tech, which was 10-1 last season before losing seven of its next 10, has five days before its home opener 1 p.m. Saturday against William and Mary.
NOTE: The All-Puerto Rico Shootout tournament team: Tech's Custis and Smith, College of Charleston's Marion Busby, Nebraska's Erick Strickland and American University of Puerto Rico's Joel Curbelo. The Most Valuable Player was Illinois' Garris.
by CNB