Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503130002
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Long
The Cavaliers, whose previous two men's basketball games with Wake were decided on the final possession, allowed the clock to run out Saturday in their ACC tournament semifinal.
The Deacons staged their second impressive comeback in as many days in defeating the Cavaliers 77-68 and advanced to the ACC championship game for the first time since 1978.
``We've accomplished something that hasn't been done in a long time,'' said Wake sophomore Tim Duncan. ``We're proud of that, but we're not through yet.''
It was the Deacons' third victory over Virginia this season, the fourth in a row over two seasons and the seventh in the teams' past nine meetings. No other team has beaten the Cavaliers more than once this season.
``It hurts,'' said UVa senior Jason Williford. ``I don't know what it is, whether it's mental or not. But, down the stretch, they knew exactly what they wanted and, apparently, we didn't.''
It was the ninth victory in a row for seventh-ranked Wake, which improved its record to 23-5, tying a school record for victories in a season set in 1983-84. The Deacons will go after their first championship since 1962 when they meet second-ranked North Carolina (23-4) at 3 p.m. today.
An NCAA Tournament bid is a formality for Virginia, but the Cavaliers (22-8) will be eager to learn their destination and pairing when the selections are made public at 6 p.m.
The UVa players had indicated privately they wanted to play Wake a third time and twice led by 10 points during a first half in which they shot 50 percent from the field.
``I felt fortunate that we were only down eight,'' said Deacons coach Dave Odom, a Virginia assistant for seven years in the 1980s. ``I felt we were still in the game if we challenged ourselves to take it to 'em early on.''
On its first possession of the second half, Wake went inside to Duncan, who drew Chris Alexander's third personal foul. On their next possession, the Deacons again went to Duncan, who scored and was fouled by Alexander.
``It was exactly what we thought they would do,'' said Alexander, who eventually fouled out after 12 scoreless minutes. ``I was very focused on not allowing him to get started, but I wasn't out there long enough to be a factor.''
Duncan finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. He had 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in the second half, when he was a major reason for Virginia's 23.8 percent field-goal shooting.
``That's 12 points he took away on those blocked shots,'' said UVa coach Jeff Jones, ``but, after the first one or two, it's like a turnover. You're better off kicking the ball outside.''
Jones said he wasn't referring specifically to Junior Burrough, whose 31 points would have been a career high if he hadn't scored 36 Friday in UVa's 77-67 quarterfinal victory over Georgia Tech.
Burrough was matched - in the game and in the tournament - by Wake's Randolph Childress, who followed a 40-point effort in the Deacons' quarterfinal victory with a 31-point game Saturday.
It was a Childress 3-pointer with 16:02 remaining that gave Wake its first lead, at 43-40, and the senior guard sealed the victory with four free throws in the final 1:32.
Virginia subsequently forced three consecutive Deacons turnovers, but the Cavaliers got only as close as 73-68 after Burrough missed two of four free throws and saw his shot blocked by Duncan from short range.
It was only the third time in the past 65 games that UVa has failed to hold a lead of 10 more or points, but two of the blown leads have come against the Deacons, both in the past 13 days.
Wake had rallied from an 18-point deficit Friday to beat Duke 87-70, and 3-pointers were a major factor in both comebacks. The Deacons were 10-for-24 from beyond the arc Saturday; Virginia, on the other hand, was 6-of-24.
Sophomore guard Harold Deane, coming off a 1-for-9 outing against Georgia Tech, was 4-for-16 against the Deacons. Freshman Curtis Staples, who had 16 points, was 5-of-15.
Deane said he continues to experience discomfort in his left (non-shooting) wrist, injured late in Virginia's final regular-season game, ``but I'm not one to make excuses.''
``I'm not sure what to say about their perimeter defense. What they do is practically invite you to drive the lane; then, when you get there, you've got to worry about Duncan.''
Virginia had a 46-33 rebounding advantage, including a whopping 26 offensive boards, 18 in the second half. However, during a stretch when Wake was building its lead, three of four Deacons field goals came on stick-backs.
Virginia's three post men - Alexander, Yuri Barnes and Norman Nolan - combined for two points, 10 rebounds and nine fouls in 37 minutes. Burrough covered Duncan for the other three minutes.
``I don't think those guys played badly; I really don't,'' Jones said. ``They [the Deacons] did a good job of saying, `We're going inside; now, see if you can stop us.' It was a gradual wearing-out process.''
by CNB