Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Jeff Jones didn't care how many points his Virginia basketball team scored Monday night against VMI.
Never mind that the Keydets' previous four opponents had averaged more than 110 points per game. The Cavaliers' coach didn't want to give up 70 in the process.
Virginia couldn't stop VMI's Lawrence Gullette, who scored a career-high 32 points, but succeeded in holding the Keydets to their season-low scoring output in a 100-73 victory at University Hall.
It was the fifth defeat in a row for the Keydets, who were coming off a 129-89 loss to No.1-ranked North Carolina and travel to Alabama for their next game Jan.7.
VMI (2-5) continued its 3-point shooting barrage and had its best night of the season, going 14-of-34. However, the Keydets could make only nine of 32 shots from inside the arc.
``Tonight was the first time I've been disappointed, not because we didn't play hard but because of our execution,'' said Bart Bellairs, VMI's first-year coach.
``We had to throw four or five more passes per possession than I would have liked, but give Virginia a lot of the credit for that. I thought we looked a little intimidated, even more than we did against North Carolina.''
The highlight for VMI came when the Keydets, who fell behind 9-0, scored the next 10 points and took the lead with 15 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first half. That was followed by a 10-0 UVa spurt.
A later 13-0 run put the Cavaliers on top 43-18 with 3:50 remaining in the half, and the margin hovered around the 25-point mark as UVa seemed to weary from the frenetic pace.
``We stressed at the half that good teams don't let up because of the score,'' Jones said. ``Until we play with that attitude, we're not going to be as good as we want to be. At times, we put it in cruise control.
``We told the team it was a good win. They've [the Keydets] been beaten badly in a couple of games, but score points. If they find a way to slow the opposition down, they're going to be dangerous.''
Walk-on Mike Curtis saw rare first-half action for UVa, but Jones didn't put in the rest of his non-scholarship players until 2:29 remained, after a flurry of Gullette 3-pointers had enabled VMI to close to 96-73.
Gullette, a 6-foot-5 junior, had a high of 19 points after two seasons but has gone over 20 in three of seven games this season. He was 7-of-12 from 3-point range to tie a school record held by Keydets assistant coach Ramon Williams.
``I've probably taken that many 3-pointers before, but they've never fallen like that,'' said Gullette, who flashed a wide grin after his last 3-pointer swished. ``I just felt it; everyone dreams of having nights like that.
``I hate losing. All of us hate losing, But, I think as a team we took a step forward tonight. There were times when we played with Virginia tonight, which can only help us in the [Southern] Conference play.''
Bellairs said the Keydets may not have taken enough 3-point shots in the first half, when they were 6-of-13. They have attempted 240 3-pointers this season, including 30 or more in five consecutive games.
``Our kids love the style and recruits love the style,'' Bellairs said. ``You don't think when I call a recruit and tell him he's going to shoot 15 to 20 times a game that doesn't excite a guy?
``And now, I can even add the fact that we're not going to play any defense, so you can rest. ... That's not funny.''
VMI matched No.22-ranked Virginia on the boards 41-41, but the Cavaliers (6-2) shot 52.4 percent from the field. After shooting 50 percent or more once last season, they have done it three times in the past six games.
Sophomore guard Harold Deane had a team high 21 points, including 10 of 12 free throws, and finished with nine assists. In the past three games, Deane has 20 assists and one turnover.
The Cavaliers, who have won three games in a row, face one of their stiffest early season tests when they entertain Stanford at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Cardinal (6-0) beat UVa 84-72 last year in Palo Alto, Calif.
``I think it's a real big game for a lot of reasons - revenge, I don't know - but that was a tough loss and left a bad taste in our mouth last year,'' Jones said.
by CNB