
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 1, 1995                   TAG: 9504040030
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY PUT ...

VIRGINIA TECH has more than the hotel's opening to feel good about this week. Take its championship victory in the National Invitation Tournament - sweet in any case, but all the sweeter because this is the basketball team the NCAA snubbed.

The Hokies had to fight for their NIT trophy into the final second of overtime Wednesday night, which seems only appropriate for an injury-plagued team that overcame its dim prospects all season by working hard, together.

Tournament victory turned on Shawn Smith's free throws in the final second. Smith, thinking of his grandmother who had died last week, sent both shots sailing through the basket as if guided by angel wings. Pure bliss. He came through like a champ on a championship team.

by CNB