Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412070074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In front of a skinny home-opener crowd of 3,506 fans at Cassell Coliseum, Smith feasted on William and Mary, scoring a career-high 32 points as the Hokies devoured the winless Tribe 77-53.
Smith's menu Saturday included a smorgasboard of moves - power drives, spinners, jumpers, jams and even a jump hook. He worked the paint against the Tribe like he used to attack a buffet table.
``William and Mary probably expected to see the old Smitty, not me down at 250 [pounds],'' said the 6-foot-6 junior forward, who weighed as much as 284 last season.
``Last year down there [a 95-79 Tech win] I played really terrible. [Assistant coach Bobby] Hussey has been on my back about that. So I was mentally ready for this today. I just wanted to show William and Mary that I could play with them.''
The Tribe (0-4) left convinced.
``Smith absolutely manhandled us the entire game,'' W&M first-year coach Charlie Woollum said. ``We couldn't do anything with him. He's so strong. He's just a heck of a player.''
The Hokies (3-1) never gave the Tribe a chance. Less than six minutes into the game, Smith had scored 14 points and Tech led 19-1.
The Hokies led 24-2 before the Tribe hit its first field goal - a 3-pointer by David Cox - with 11:44 left in the first half. W&M missed its first nine shots and trailed 30-5 before getting to intermission down 40-19.
``We were absolutely horrible,'' said Woollum, whose club shot 20.8 percent (5-of-24) in the first half.
``We didn't compete at all for the first 12 minutes. We didn't run an offense. We just stood around. And that was the game.''
Smith, whose previous high was 27 points last year against Virginia Commonwealth, hit 6 of 8 shots and had 16 points by halftime.
``Smitty came out with a great start,'' said Tech sophomore forward Ace Custis, who watched Smith displace him as the club's leading scorer at 23.2 points per game.
``He was feeling it, man, and we kept going to to him. Hopefully, he will be feeling it Monday when we play Xavier [Ohio].''
The only suspense in the second half was just how much damage Smith would do. His second-half menu included a 3-pointer and a resounding dunk that brought the Tech fans to their feet with 12:45 left.
Smith's final line read: 11-for-16 from the field, 9-for-10 at the free-throw line, 32 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.
``I think the weight loss has had a lot to do with it,'' Smith said. ``It's helped me get up and down the floor and get some easy baskets.''
Tech coach Bill Foster likes the new svelte Smith.
``Smitty played a great all-around game,'' Foster said. ``He continues to amaze me with some of the shots he makes. He is playing so much better at his new weight. He's a half-step quicker and he has so much better hops and first steps.''
Besides Smith, the only other Hokies in double figures were junior guard Shawn Good (12 points) and Custis (11).
Because of the score, Foster was allowed to play more than seven players for the first time this season. Tech has only nine players due to injuries to junior Jim Jackson and transfer Keefe Matthews, and freshman Shawn Browne's eligibility problems.
Foster said Matthews, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three weeks ago, is making quick progress and likely will be available by Christmas.
Jackson, who had back surgery last March, likely won't return. ``I'm 99 percent sure Jackson will be red-shirted,'' Foster said.
Foster isn't certain about Browne, whose eligibility rests with the NCAA, which still hasn't OK'd the freshman's high school transcripts yet.
The Hokies, in the middle of a four-game home run, resume action Monday against Xavier at 7:30 p.m.
by CNB