Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 27, 1995 TAG: 9502280048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The Deacons, coached by former UVa assistant Dave Odom, completed a season sweep of the Cavaliers with a 66-63 victory Sunday at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
It was Wake's sixth victory in the last eight games with Virginia, which dropped to third in the ACC - one-half game ahead of the Deacons - after entering the weekend in sole possession of first.
``I don't know what the key is,'' Odom said. ``The games have all been so close, even the ones we've lost. It just as easily could have gone the other way.''
The Deacons won the first meeting 71-70 on a pair of free throws with 5.7 seconds remaining, and Sunday's game had a similar finish. Wake led 64-63 before freshman Tony Rutland converted a one-and-one with 7.3 seconds left.
That was preceded by a rushed 3-point attempt by UVa freshman Curtis Staples with 11 seconds left. The Cavaliers had a chance to tie after Rutland's free throws, but Harold Deane's contested 3-point shot wasn't close.
``I think Curtis thought there was less time on the clock than there really was,'' Jones said, ``but when the ball left his hand, we all thought it had a chance to go in the basket.''
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for 11th-ranked Virginia, which fell to 19-7 overall and 11-4 in the conference. No.10 Wake, winning for the eighth time in nine games, improved to 19-5 and 10-4.
``Two basketball teams played to utter exhaustion,'' Odom said. ``If it had gone into overtime, I think both teams would have had to sub almost completely. Randolph [Childress] was as tired as I've ever seen him.''
Virginia could have considered it a good sign when it took a 22-12 lead in the first half. The Cavaliers had won 32 consecutive games and 60 of the last 61 when it led by 10 points or more, but the cushion was gone in almost no time Sunday.
Childress hit a pair of 3-pointers as Wake outscored UVa 10-0 over a span of four possessions and the Deacons benefited from a pair of technical fouls with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left to complete a 23-5 run.
It was 27-27 before UVa senior Jason Williford was called for a foul on a rebound and drew a technical for pushing Rusty LaRue. Jones then picked up a technical for continuing to protest the original call by official Duke Edsall from Roanoke.
``I have no idea what the ACC `gag' rule is for coaches,'' Jones said, ``so, I'm not going to comment. Talking about it is not going to make me feel any better. I want to coach Tuesday [against Virginia Tech].''
Not only did Wake Forest make all six free throws resulting from the personal and technical fouls, but the technical foul against Williford counted as his third personal.
``It was nothing against LaRue,'' said Williford, who has three technicals this season. ``It wasn't smart of me to lose my head, but I felt I was being held. Judging from his reaction, I'd say [Jones] agreed with me.''
Williford had a season-high 15 points and 11 rebounds, but the Cavaliers got little offense - or defense - from their other frontcourt players. Power forward Junior Burrough had a season-low six points.
``Junior played like he was tired from the opening tip,'' Jones said. ``When it came time for our inside players to step up, they didn't do it.''
Burrough clearly was bothered by 6-11 Wake center Tim Duncan, who was credited with only one block but was an intimidating presence inside. Duncan, a sophomore, finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
``It may seem unusual that Yuri Barnes hadn't played in the second half and he goes in with four minutes left,'' Jones said. ``Basically, I told Yuri, `We need somebody to be in there and make a man's play.' To his credit, Yuri mixed it up.''
Williford's foul trouble hindered him against Wake senior Travis Banks, who had 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Childress had 19 points, only four after intermission.
Deane led Virginia with 20 points, but did most of his scoring on drives and from the free-throw line. The Cavaliers were only 6-of-21 on 3-pointers and compounded their misery by missing six of nine free throws to start the second half.
``You're going to lose some games and have some games when you don't play well,'' Jones said, ``but it's hard to accept when key players - particularly veteran players - consistently make mental mistakes.''
by CNB