Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030073
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Southern Mississippi probably wished he had been there.
Good, however, was occupied with dictating matters in Tech's 76-61 victory over the Golden Eagles in a Metro game played before 7,123 fans in Cassell Coliseum.
The victory puts Tech in a third-place tie in the Metro, and it marked the Hokies' first regular-season sweep of Southern Miss since the 1984-85 season. It was Tech's first home win over the Golden Eagles since the 1988-89 season.
Just hours after Virginia Tech's 17-year stay in the Metro ended with a $1.135 million settlement, Good became Tech's money man by scoring 22 points, making three 3-pointers and blocking a career-high four shots.
``Shawn Good was phenomenal,'' said Tech forward Ace Custis. ``He was taking control, offensively and defensively.''
He had to. As Tech (15-5 overall, 3-3 Metro) struggled through the first half, Good, Tech's junior point guard, and backcourt mate Damon Watlington, kept the Hokies close by combining for 18 first-half points.
Tech, which outscored the Eagles 47-29 after intermission, shot 65 percent from the field in the second half (15-for-23) and finished at 58 percent for the game (28-for-48). Good was 9-for-12 from the floor, 5-for-6 in the second half.
His final shot, a gravity-defying, left-handed breakaway dunk, accounted for the game's last points and provided Good with a fitting finale.
``Shawn Good was spectacular from start to finish,'' said Bill Foster, Tech's coach.
Had he recorded goose eggs offensively, Good still would have been one of the heroes for Tech for his defensive shadowing of Southern Miss point guard Damien Smith, the Metro's leading scorer.
Smith finished with 12 points - six below his average - on 5-of-17 shooting. Last month in Hattiesburg, Smith scored 19 against the Hokies in Tech's 87-72 win.
``I sort of had Damien Smith's shot pattern down,'' Good said. ``He'd take one dribble and shoot. Last time we played them, I was just short [of getting the block]. This time, my timing was better.''
Good's offensive timing also was excellent, as he repeatedly made clutch perimeter shots, especially late in the game.
Tech led 58-48 with 7 minutes, 49 seconds remaining, but Southern Miss (11-6, 2-3) used a 7-2 run to pull close.
After Eagles center Glen Whisby (18 points) made back-to-back layups to cut the deficit to 60-55 with 4:15 left, Good nailed a 3-pointer with the shot clock running down to increase the lead to eight.
``I had looked at the clock earlier and saw eight seconds left,'' Good said. ``I knew if I got the ball back I was going to shoot it.''
Jackson scored to give Tech the lead for good at 38-36 with 16:34 left. From there, Tech outscored the Golden Eagles 18-9 as Smith helped Tech loosen itself from the Eagles with his play at both ends of the floor.
In a span of three and a half minutes, Good blocked Damien Smith's jumper, made a steal, knocked down one of his trademark hang-in-the-air soft jumpers and sank a 3-pointer to give Tech a 46-40 lead.
Ace Custis finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and eight rebounds. All five Tech starters scored in double figures.
Thursday's game likely brought an end to the Tech-Southern Miss series, which began in 1982-83.
``I'll miss Virginia Tech, they've been good for the Metro,'' said Southern Miss coach M.K. Turk, whose teams have won 16 of the last 21 games against the Hokies. ``I won't miss playing here in Cassell Coliseum, though.''
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB