Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech is discovering that riding the NCAA Tournament fence can be a painful experience.
The Hokies ventured to Metro Conference leader UNC Charlotte on Thursday night and got pricked by another damaging splinter.
Proving to be a 6-foot-7 thorn in Tech's side, Jarvis Lang gunned in a season-high 30 points, including a career-high three 3-pointers, as the 49ers stuck the Hokies 71-60 at Independence Arena.
The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 17-7 overall and 3-5 in the Metro. The Hokies, who only a week ago appeared to be in decent shape to earn an NCAA at-large invitation, are now in danger of falling off the fence.
"Every game is going to be `the' game now,'' said Bill Foster, Tech's coach. ``From here on, the biggest game of the year is going to be the next one.''
"Our kids think they can can play against Tulane [at home Saturday], and that's important. We finished up last year with four wins in the conference, so the kids know what we can do.''
The Hokies, now down to six players, a walk-on (Kelly Mann) and a 6-foot-8 cheerleader (seldom-used Brandon Price), don't appear to have the horses anymore.
Foster's depth problem was exacerbated Tuesday, when top reserve David Jackson suffered a sprained right ankle in practice. Jackson is expected to miss at least two more games.
"This is the first time we haven't played without all the TV timeouts and we were dragging at halftime ... [Damon] Watlington was cramping up,'' said Foster, whose starters logged all but 21 of a possible 200 minutes.
"Right now, we're really up Goose Creek with our substitution pattern. We've got just a few cards to play, so all we can do is keep shuffling 'em up and see if we can deal a winning hand.''
Lang had one. The Metro's preseason player of the year hit 12 of 16 shots as the 49ers (17-5, 7-3) followed South Florida's Hokie-killing plan of last Saturday - pound the ball inside.
Lang ventured outside several times, burying all three 3-pointers he attempted.
"Too much Jarvis Lang, that was the story of this game,'' Foster said. "Lang's a real problem when he plays like he did tonight. He was in a zone. When is the last time he went 3-for-3 on 3s. Ever?''
Lang's night left an impression on Tech's Shawn Smith.
"He proved tonight he's the best player in the conference,'' Smith said.
Tech's Ace Custis, who might contest his teammate's point, confessed that Lang had the upper hand in their first head-to-head meeting of the season.
"Lang and I will meet again, that's all I can say,'' said Custis, who had 13 points.
Lang had seven of the Niners' 11 second-half field goals. His 11 rebounds paced a 42-29 domination of the backboards by UNCC.
"They looked awfully tired at times,'' Lang said of the Hokies. ``It's tough going five against nine. We knew we could pound and pound on 'em all night.''
The Hokies' defense, so tough for so long, has sprung some leaks the last couple weeks.
"I don't know what the problem is suddenly with our inside defense and rebounding,'' Custis said. ``We're getting killed down low.''
Tech never led. After the score was tied at 29, the Hokies missed 10 of their final 11 shots of the first half to trail 38-29 at the break. All but seven of the Niners' 18 first-half baskets originated in the paint.
In the second half, the Niners continued to have their way, exploiting the tired Hokies inside. UNCC led by 15 points several times in the final 20 minutes.
"We played hard but we didn't play very well,'' Foster said. ``We could have been blown out by 20 or 25 points.''
Tech, which has three of its final four Metro games at home, now has its work cut out. Most figure the Hokies must finish 7-5 in the Metro to have any chance at an at-large bid.
"We've dug ourselves a hole,'' Custis said. "Now we've got to find a way to climb out of it.''
by CNB