Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130117
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Continuing their long-running mastery of the Hokies, the Cardinals watched a tip-in attempt by Virginia Tech's Ace Custis leak off the rim with one second left and escaped with a 62-61 Metro Conference victory before a crowd of 7,582.
Only seconds earlier, Louisville had erased a one-point deficit on two free throws by Samaki Walker - the same freshman center who missed 14 of 16 free throws Saturday in the Cardinals' victory over Notre Dame.
The victory was Louisville's eighth in a row and 19th in its past 21 games against the Hokies. Louisville is 13-3 at Cassell, where Tech is 333-76 since 1961.
``This is a very emotional loss for us,'' Custis said. ``It's just a big one we let get away. I'm frustrated because I had a shot to put it away and it didn't go down.''
Trailing by one with 4.3 seconds left, Tech (11-3 overall, 1-2 Metro) inbounded the ball from the baseline out to guard Damon Watlington, who quickly penetrated and launched a leaning 15-footer over defender Tick Rogers. Watlington's shot skimmed off the rim to Custis, parked on the baseline. In one motion, Custis caught the ball with his right hand and sent it back toward the basket. The ball caromed off the glass, caught the rim, hesitated for what seemed like a second and spun off.
``I thought it was in,'' Custis said. ``I tipped the ball because I didn't think I had time to catch it and go back up. Somebody behind me got a hand on the ball, too, or it would have gone, I think.''
It just wasn't meant to be for the Hokies. They should have realized that with 7.8 seconds left, when Walker, a 46 percent free-throw shooter (37-of-81), stepped up and did his Calvin Murphy impersonation, swishing two in a row.
``For a freshman to do that on the road after hitting two of 16 his last game is a major, major accomplishment,'' said Denny Crum, the Cardinals' coach. ``That's downright impressive in my book.''
Walker, considered one of the nation's top first-year players, said afterward it was no sweat.
``I knew I had to make 'em,'' Walker said. ``I can't compare myself to Rick Barry yet, but I can shoot free throws. I shot 75 percent in high school.''
Shawn Smith, who fouled Walker on a follow attempt down low, said he thought he had made the correct move.
``I never thought he'd make two [free throws], but he did,'' Smith said. ``I wasn't going to let him get the stick-back up. He made 'em. Give him credit.''
Louisville (9-4, 1-1) scored the game's first seven points and led the entire half, taking a 35-30 advantage to the locker room. The Cardinals led thanks to a great defensive job on Custis and Smith, who had only six shots and five points collectively in the half.
Louisville led by as many as eight (55-47) with 9 minutes, 50 seconds left in the second half before Tech rallied behind Smith and Custis. The Hokies went on a 10-2 run and tied it at 57 with with 5:50 left on Custis' left-handed drive.
After Watlington's 12-foot jump shot with 3:08 left gave Tech a 59-57 lead, the Cardinals went back in front with 2:25 left on DeJuan Wheat's layup, set up by an errant pass by the Hokies' David Jackson.
Tech took what would be its final lead with 38 seconds left on Smith's follow from the lane.
Then, it was Walker's turn to make up for Saturday's joke at the line.
``Hopefully, all the guys will let me forget Notre Dame now,'' he said.
Needless to say, the Hokies won't forget this one anytime soon.
``I'm proud of this bunch,'' said Bill Foster, Tech's coach. ``I just hope they can get over it before Saturday. It's going to take a real effort to get ready for VCU.''
Watlington, the Hokies' only first-half offense, led Tech with 18 points. Smith had 15 points, and Custis added 12 points and 13 rebounds.
It was revealed Thursday that Custis has a stress fracture in his right foot. He suffered the injury Jan.5 during Tech's 78-72 loss at Tulane.
Custis wore a special orthotic in his shoe Thursday. Foster said the country's eighth-leading rebounder will be held out of practices in hopes of nursing the foot back to full strength.
As expected, Foster announced Thursday that junior forwards Jim Jackson and Keefe Matthews will be redshirted this season. Jackson, still rehabilitating from back surgery in March 1994, and Matthews, who has responded slowly from November knee surgery, each will have two years of eligibility left.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB