Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503230086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Overcoming a reputation as a team that can't hit a last-second shot for a victory, the Hokies made the big one Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Travis Jackson sank a 3-point shot from the left corner with 1.9 seconds left, sending the Hokies past New Mexico State 64-61 and on to The Big Apple for the National Invitation Tournament semifinals.
Tech (23-10) will meet the winner of tonight's game between Canisius and Washington State in an NIT semifinal in New York's Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
The Hokies, who failed on last-second shots during the regular season against Louisville, South Florida and Virginia, appeared to be on the verge of blowing another game.
Tech held a 19-point lead at halftime and then withered under New Mexico State's second-half pressure.
The Aggies (25-10) spent the entire second half playing catch-up. They didn't pull even until Troy Brewer connected on a short jump shot with 13 seconds to go.
Tech didn't call a timeout, instead hurrying the ball down the middle to Ace Custis. The Aggies covered Custis quickly. He passed to Jackson and the 6-foot-8 junior hit nothing but net as many of the season's largest crowd (9,523) stormed the floor.
``I'm three-for-three from that corner this year. It felt really good, but I didn't know if it was going in,'' Jackson said.
``We didn't have anything drawn up. It was impromptu, but Ace drew the defense to him and made a great pass.''
Custis, who led Tech with five assists, did not hesitate to go to Jackson even though the Tech center had failed on five of his previous seven shots.
``Travis is a great perimeter shooter,'' Custis said. ''When he spots up, I have confidence in him. If he had missed, I was going to try and get the rebound.''
No need to worry, for Tech finally found salvation at the game's end.
``That was nice strategy we had at the end, right!'' said Tech coach Bill Foster with a sly grin.
``There were two reasons why we didn't call a timeout to set up something for a final shot. For one thing, we have been unsuccessful doing that this season. We've mapped big plans and it didn't go our way.
``A better reason is that we might not have gotten the ball back inbounds against those guys. They're so quick.''
The Aggies got back in the game because of their pressure defense. New Mexico State forced nine Tech turnovers after intermission.
In the first half, the Aggies appeared more intent on arguing with each other than battling the Hokies.
``I thought Tech did an excellent job in the first half,'' said New Mexico State coach Neil McCarthy. ``We were really embarrassed by the score [39-20].
``Twenty-four hours ago, we were in Las Cruces [N.M.]. I think fatigue had a lot to do with our poor first half. However, fatigue or no fatigue, we knew we'd have to press most of the second half.''
The Hokies knew it too.
``Give New Mexico State credit,'' Foster said. ``We haven't played anyone that plays the style those guys do. They just keep coming at you with the press and it really takes you out of what you're trying to do.''
New Mexico State came close to catching the Hokies when Johnny Selvie's follow-up made it 56-54 with 4:45 left.
Tech got a second wind thanks to Damon Watlington. The junior guard hit a pair of free throws and, less than a minute later, his 3-point shot from the side put the Hokies on top 61-54.
It was far from over. The game turned quickly when center Shawn Smith, who had picked up three fouls in 23 seconds midway through the second half, fouled out.
That sparked the Aggies, who used a 3-point shot by Skip McCoy to set up Brewer's tying shot after Travis Jackson had missed an off-balance attempt with 38 seconds left.
``It wasn't that we were playing worse in the second half,'' Jackson said. ``It was that New Mexico State picked their game up.''
Another last-second loss was still on the Hokies' minds.
``Whenever a game is close, we think of Virginia,'' Custis said. ``We think of Virginia and a big lead [seven points with 2:20 left] we let slip away.''
Foster would prefer to think of the one that didn't slip away.
``This one has to help us in the final four at New York,'' he said. ``When you win a tight one like this against a very good team, you gain some confidence.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB