Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412070158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
On the same date that Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium opened in 1952, Virginia's first-half performance Tuesday night set the game of basketball back 42 years.
The Cavaliers couldn't shoot, couldn't handle the ball and couldn't play defense without fouling.
Vanderbilt jumped to a 16-point halftime lead over 20th-ranked UVa and held on for a 70-65 victory before 14,849 at Memorial Gymasium.
The Commodores, coming off a 22-point loss at Penn State, led by as much as 49-29 early in the second half before Virginia began one of its all-too-familiar late-game comebacks.
UVa (3-2) twice got as close as four points, the last time with 41 seconds remaining, but Vanderbilt was uncanny from the free-throw line in the clutch.
The Commodores (3-1) did not have a field goal in the final 12:26, but made 26 of 32 free throws, including 13 of 16 in the last 7:05. Vanderbilt was 21-for-21 from the line against UVa in a 68-64 victory at Memorial Gym in 1989.
``I hope the Vanderbilt fans can appreciate what they saw,'' UVa coach Jeff Jones said. ``That was a very impressive display of heart [and] character.
``They certainly weren't feeling sorry for themselves. They were extremely tough mentally and physically. I'm impressed not just by the way they played, but with their attitude.''
That was in marked contrast with his feelings for his own team.
``It seems like the same old story,'' he said. ``I thought we had addressed some things, but apparently it wasn't enough for some people on our team to lay it on the line.
``Until we get that turned around, it's going to be very difficult for us to be a good basketball team.''
Virginia had no answer for Vanderbilt junior guard Frank Seckar, a left-hander who looks like ex-UVa guard John Crotty and even has the same No.22. Seckar hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 23 points.
``Seckar dominated the game from the point-guard spot,'' Jones said. ``He didn't do a whole lot wrong the whole game. He's a tough, hard-nosed player who keeps it simple and doesn't make mistakes. And he hurts you if you make mistakes.''
UVa point guard Cory Alexander, who has announced plans to turn pro at the end of the year, kept losing Seckar at the defensive end and had a miserable offensive game with five points.
The Commodores blocked Alexander's first three shots and he finished 2-for-11 from the field and 1-for-3 from the foul line. Not counting the opening game of the 1993-94 season, when he was injured, it was Alexander's lowest scoring output since his freshman year.
``Nothing would fall,'' said Alexander, who also had seven turnovers. ``All I could do was keep shooting. I think I'm a good enough shooter that I was taking good shots.
``I feel like I let a lot of people down today. Being that I couldn't help them, I think [his teammates] did a good job getting us back in the game.''
The game was reminiscent of UVa's first loss, in which it cut a 21-point second-half deficit to three before falling to Ohio University 94-83 in the Preseason NIT.
``It was very similar to some of our other games,'' Alexander said. ``When you're out there, you don't think, `Here we go again.' But the beginnings of games have been killing us for a while.''
Harold Deane led the Cavaliers with 16 points, including 11 in the second half. Freshman guard Curtis Staples added 13 points, including three of six 3-pointers.
Ronnie McMahan matched Seckar with 23 points, including 11 of 13 free throws. The Commodores made only five of 26 shots from the field in the second half, when UVa had enough time and opportunities to pull even closer than it did.
``Until that point, they beat us to every loose ball,'' Jones said. ``They controlled the lane. We didn't get anything on the offensive boards; when we went to the boards, we were tip-toeing through the lane.
``I would have to question our motivation and concentration because it certainly wasn't where it needed to be. They certainly were made aware that this was a tough place to play.''
by CNB