Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502080024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Bill Foster has complained all season about his depth-shy Virginia Tech team not having enough bodies to hold a five-on-five scrimmage.
Courtesy of Florida Atlantic University, the Hokies finally got to conduct one Saturday afternoon.
In what amounted to a glorified practice before a crowd of 4,750 at Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies drilled the Owls, wind-sprinting to an easy 79-35 victory.
In registering its 16th victory in 21 games, Tech set a Cassell record for fewest points allowed. The previous low was 40 by James Madison on Feb.13, 1980.
Florida Atlantic's 15 second-half points was the second-lowest total in Cassell's 34-year history, exceeded by JMU's 13 in the first half of the aforementioned game.
If the boys from Boca Raton thought it was nippy outside Cassell, wonder what they thought about the freezer inside. The Owls (6-12) hit only six of 25 shots in the second half (24 percent) and 14 of 47 for the game (29.8).
``There's really not much I can say,'' said Owls coach Tim Loomis, whose misfiring unit was outscored 49-15 in the second half.
``That 20 minutes was one of the worst exhibitions of basketball I've seen. I usually don't get really upset because of our situation, but this situation leaves me a little more than upset.
``We completely self-destructed. Score 15 points in a half ... shoot, I think a junior high team could score that many against the [Boston] Celtics.''
Foster, playing with only seven players since the loss of backup center Brandon Price to mononucleosis, was quick to apologize for the final score.
``This is a game where I wish we had more players,'' Foster said. ``Because I really hated the score got to be what it did to be honest. We backed off the last five minutes and didn't defend much outside of the 3[-point area], but you can't tell your kids to quit shooting or quit playing and the thing just snowballed.''
Early on, at least, it was Tech that had the snowball in the face. The daydreaming Hokies hit only one of their first 11 shots, scored only twice on their first 13 possessions and trailed 13-5 after nine minutes.
``The emotion just wasn't there,'' Foster said. ``As a coach, you kind of anticipate starts like that. Last year at their place, we ran out to a 28-2 lead. And no matter how much you talk about them being better, about them playing Tulane to a 12-point game and Georgetown to 15, you can't erase that memory of last year in the kids' minds.''
This wouldn't be another Louisville-Towson State, however. The Hokies, given a spark by bench-men David Jackson, Kelly Mann and Myron Guillory, went on a 20-3 run in the next nine minutes to take control.
Control became out of control in the second half. Leading 40-29 with 14:26 left, Tech proceeded to score 39 of the game's final 45 points. The visitors scored only two points in the final 71/2 minutes.
Tech conducted a veritable layup-and-dunk drill in the final 14 minutes.
``We were pathetic,'' Loomis said. ``We couldn't compete.
``But hand it to Tech. We've played Georgetown and a lot of others, and I think Tech's first six [players], especially its top four, are as good as anybody we've played.
``I'm not just saying this because I'm sitting here, but I think Tech is a lot better than Georgetown.''
Ace Custis led Tech with 22 points and 13 rebounds, his 12th double-double this season. Shawn Smith had 20 points, while Shawn Good added 11, including a couple of monstrous jams.
After hitting only 11 of 27 shots in the first half, Tech shot 63 percent (17-of-27) in the final 20 minutes. The Hokies have shot 63 percent or better in the second half of their past four games.
``It took us awhile to get started,'' Smith said. ``Personally, it's hard to get jacked for a game like this coming off a sweep of Southern Miss.
``In the second half, we had a lot of fun out there. We were playing defense and on the run, and that's when we're best.''
Tech will be on the run this week, heading to Dayton, Ohio, to meet Wright State on Tuesday before heading to South Florida for a Metro Conference game on Feb.11.
``Another three-game road trip,'' said Foster, whose club goes to UNC Charlotte on Feb.16. ``I know we play more road games than anybody in the Metro. If we can get our bobsleds working Monday, we'll take off for Wright State.''
And the Owls?
``We're outta here,'' Loomis said.
by CNB