Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502100075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER CHARLOTTESVILLE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It could be extremely costly, depending on results of tests on Cory Alexander's right ankle.
Alexander limped to the bench with 8 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the first half and went to the locker room shortly thereafter for X-rays. He did not return.
``[It's] a little scary right now,'' said Alexander, who was using crutches as he left University Hall.
Alexander, a fourth-year junior who has plans to enter the NBA draft after the season, broke his right ankle in the first game of the 1993-94 season and did not play again.
``The X-ray shows a fracture line there,'' team physician Frank McCue said after the game. ``It doesn't appear to be complete; we're going to do other studies to see if this is the old line or a new fracture.
``On the views we have, it could be overlap. From my experience in looking at X-rays, I can't tell for sure, but it looks like he's probably got a fracture in the same area as last year.
``If this is a fracture, he won't be able to play any more'' this season.
The Cavaliers, down 19-14 at the time of Alexander's injury, trailed twice by as many as nine points before staging the latest in a series of second-half comebacks.
Five players scored in double figures for 17th-ranked UVa, headed by senior forward Jason Williford with a season-high 13 points. Freshman guard Curtis Staples added 12, all in the second half.
Junior center Todd Fuller had a game-high 20 points for the Wolfpack, which saw its record fall to 10-10 overall and 2-8 with its sixth loss in a row. UVa improved to 14-6 and 7-3, one game behind ACC co-leaders North Carolina and Maryland.
``Once again we didn't make it easy,'' said Jeff Jones, UVa's coach, ``but I'm more concerned with Cory right now, his physical well-being and his mental well-being.
``It's difficult. I feel for him. He's put so much in and I just hope, one way or another, that it's just a sprain and nothing too serious.''
The injury apparently occurred when Alexander collided with N.C. State freshman C.C. Harrison after taking an outlet pass. Alexander rolled the ball to a teammate, but remained at the defensive end of the floor.
On the next Wolfpack possession, Alexander was going for a rebound when he was fouled by Harrison. Alexander fell to the court, pushed himself into a standing position, then limped to the bench.
The Wolfpack was able to extend its lead to 28-19 before the Cavaliers started to rally with a small lineup that included 6-8 Junior Burrough at center and Williford, who is 6-5, at power forward.
``I didn't know Cory was hurt at first,'' Burrough said. ``Even at halftime, he had his shoes on and was walking around the locker room. But, whenever he's out of the game, it's an adjustment.''
Jones was pleased UVa trailed only 32-28 at the half, considering the Cavs had missed all six of their free throws. Moreover, the Wolfpack was shooting 53.8 percent (14 of 26) from the field.
State came into the game shooting 38.4 percent in ACC games and returned to form in the second half. The Wolfpack shot only 27.8 percent in the second half and 38.7 for the game.
``I was pleased with our perfect free-throw shooting [2-for-2],'' said N.C. State coach Les Robinson, the sarcasm obvious in his voice. ``I'm glad that all our work last night paid off.''The spread was down to 53-47 before Staples hit his third 3-point goal of the second half with 3:36 left.
``In the first half, I don't know what it was, but I was just terrible,'' Staples said. ``The shots weren't falling for me, but I kept telling myself the next one was going to go.
``What's going through my mind right now is, `I hope Cory's all right.' When Coach [Jones] came in, he didn't tell us Cory was out or Cory was hurt really bad, but the tone of his voice was real scary.''
State was without one of its regulars, senior forward Bryant Feggins, suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy. In Alexander, the Cavaliers lost their No.2 scorer (17.5 points per game) and assists leader.
``I don't think it makes any sense right now to speculate,'' Jones said. ``We'll do the tests; we'll see what the results are. Hopefully, he'll be back. If not, our basketball team will have to find a way to fight through it.''
by CNB