Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504040042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium
Score.
The Tar Heels managed only one field goal in a stretch of 23 second-half possessions, but the Razorbacks still needed a great escape to come away with a 75-68 victory at the Kingdome.
The Razorbacks (32-6) will defend their national title Monday night at the Kingdome against UCLA (30-2). It will be a battle between the only Division I teams with 30 victories, and it will be the first NCAA championship game without an ACC entrant in six years.
Arkansas, known for its relentless defensive pressure and depth, really didn't damage Carolina (28-6) much with those ingredients. The Heels' shots were good until they left their hands.
The Tar Heels led 47-42 with 17:12 left, then got ice cold. Jerry Stackhouse's 3-pointer with 15:15 left was the only field goal in Carolina's next 16 attempts. Still, when Donald Williams swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:38 left, Arkansas led only 69-63 - thanks in part to 10 Tar Heels free throws.
And Williams had a chance to tie the score on a 3-pointer with eight seconds left, but his shot bounced off the front left of the iron.
``We came back and had a great chance to win,'' said Smith, coaching in his 10th Final Four in 29 years. ``We thought we would.
``We didn't get exactly what we wanted [on the last possession], but any time Donald has an open look, he can take the shot. He's done a lot of great things for us.''
The Tar Heels shot a season-low 37.5 percent (21-of-56), including 6-for-24 in the second half. The Razorbacks hardly were offensively efficient themselves, hitting less than 38 percent. Still, it was enough for their 15th victory in 16 games and 11th straight in the NCAA Tournament.
``We didn't shoot as well as the shots we got,'' Smith said. ``[The Razorbacks] gamble a lot on defense, and you do have to make the open jumpers because they almost give them to you. With our shooting, we thought we could do that.''
Carolina, ranked second nationally in field-goal percentage (.512) among 302 Division I teams, picked the wrong night to get only seven shots from Stackhouse and a 1-for-10 flameout by Dante Calabria.
``I think we had a little bit to do with that,'' said Nolan Richardson, the Arkansas coach. ``I thought we wore 'em down a little by chasing 'em. That's been our trademark all year.''
The Heels scored fewer points in only two games this season, victories over Wake Forest (62-61) and Clemson (66-39). Defensively, UNC also couldn't handle hoggish Corliss Williamson, who had 19 points in the second half after scoring one basket in the first 20 minutes.
``Our guys did a lot of good passing inside to me,'' Williamson said. ``All I had to do was turn around and score.''
The Heels might have realized at halftime that their eighth NCAA championship game wouldn't be easy to reach.
Dwight Stewart's 55-foot bomb ended a 30 percent (12-of-40) shooting half, cuting the defending champions' deficit to four at the horn, 38-34.
It was a stunning exclamation point, especially considering Carolina had pulled away in the final five minutes before the break.
Williams, who two years ago as a sophomore was the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four, scored 10 consecutive Tar Heels points as the game went from a lead-swapping affair to a seven-point Carolina bulge.
From a 28-27 edge with 5:29 left, the sixth-ranked Razorbacks went 0-for-8 on six scoreless possessions that also included a turnover. Arkansas converted on only two of its final 11 possessions of the half, but both were 3-pointers.
In the second half, ``we were fresh, and that was the difference,'' said Richardson, who Monday night could join Smith and nine other coaches on the list of those with at least two NCAA titles.
``Still, we can't make it easy. It's been that way the whole tournament. We've squeaked by. The Cardiac Kids. We did it again.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB