Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412200041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
He claimed he never even glanced Saturday night as No.1 North Carolina was scoring points at a record pace.
``I look [at the scoreboard] right at the end of the game, and that's it,'' said Calabria, who hit six 3-pointers in the first half as the Tar Heels tied a school record for points in a game in a 129-89 victory over VMI.
``My coach in high school would ask us what the score was at halftime and if someone knew, the next day in practice they had to run. So, I got away from the habit real quick,'' Calabria said.
The Tar Heels (6-0), who have the most victories in college basketball history, have played 2,175 games. The point total matched the 129 they scored against Manhattan in December 1985.
VMI ``was shooting so quickly it seemed like we were playing one of those old UNLV or Loyola [Marymount] teams,'' said Dean Smith, North Carolina's coach.
The Keydets set a school record with 40 3-point attempts in the fast-paced game, but made only 10; the Tar Heels countered with 14-of-28 shooting from beyond the arc.
``That's our style, that's what we want to do is press a team and push the ball up the floor,'' said Donald Williams, who had a career high with nine of North Carolina's 37 assists. ``We knew we could wear them down because of our size. They probably took it as a learning experience, too.''
North Carolina also showed no ill effects from a nine-day layoff, sinking 31 of 41 shots in the first 20 minutes and blocking 10 shots while building a 77-42 halftime lead.
``We were ready to go. This wasn't going to be a game where we came out and weren't ready to play,'' Calabria said.
``The way we established things I don't think anybody could have beat us tonight,'' said Jerry Stackhouse, who led the Tar Heels with 22 points on 10-of-12 field-goal shooting. ``VMI just caught the bad end of it.''
Jeff McInnis added 20 points and seven assists for the Tar Heels.
Lawrence Gullette led VMI with 22 points.
North Carolina scored its 100th point with 13 minutes, 33 seconds left and all five starters, who hit double figures in the first half, departed about a minute later when Smith called a timeout to put his substitutes into the game.
``These kids go to VMI, they are used to tough situations,'' said Bart Bellairs, the Keydets' coach.
North Carolina's starters were 38-of-51 from the field as the Tar Heels beat the Keydets (2-4) for the 31st consecutive time - although this was the first meeting in 41 years.
The scoring binge in the first 20 minutes surpassed the previous school record of 72 points in the first half against Miami in December 1986.
Calabria, who finished with 18 points - all in the first half - sank four consecutive long-range shots in the first 4:26 as North Carolina grabbed a 23-8 lead.
The margin reached 30 seven minutes before halftime as the Tar Heels scored on 25 of their first 30 possessions.
North Carolina opened the first half shooting 14-of-16 and the second half 11-of-15.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB