Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511280063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
The Maroons remained undefeated with a 101-77 victory over the Panthers before 450 at Swartz Gymnasium in a game that featured large rallies by both teams, a combined 67 free throws and Ferrum coach Bill Pullen riding the referees so hard, it brought him out of his wheelchair.
All the sidelights, however, could not obscure Roanoke's early-season trend - blowout victories. The Maroons (3-0) have won two games by 26 points and this one by 24.
``It's a lot more fun sitting on the bench at the end of a game than it is coaching,'' said Roanoke coach Page Moir. ``Not that we're much better than these teams. I'm glad we're playing here early in the year. What [the Panthers] are now compared to a month from now will be like night and day.''
Pullen, confined to a wheelchair while recovering from an Oct.28 auto accident, hopes to see the light soon, but at 0-3, he isn't counting on it.
``Nobody could have done any worse than we played,'' he said.
There actually was something positive Sunday for the Panthers. After trailing by as many as 22 points in the first half, Ferrum went on a 10-0 run midway through the second half to cut it to 74-68. Pullen had inserted three new starters - Jay Morris and two Patrick Henry High School graduates, Maurice Preston and Blue Cook - just after intermission, and they helped control the backboards and get the Panthers going.
``I think they were a key,'' Pullen said.
``They were a little quicker to the ball,'' Moir added. ``We didn't do what we needed to do rebounding.''
Ferrum outrebounded Roanoke 57-49.
Ferrum, however, may have peaked too soon. Once the Panthers got to 68 points, the Maroons went on a 19-0 run spurred by Jon Maher's inside presence and effectively put away the game. Ferrum went scoreless for 6:36.
``We got tired after the comeback,'' Pullen said.
Maher, a former Blacksburg High standout, led Roanoke with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Hunter had 20 for the Panthers, while teammate Chuck Ellis had a game-high 16 boards.
Before Ferrum's run, Pullen leaped out of his wheelchair to protest an intentional foul call on Hunter. ``He hit the ball!'' Pullen yelled. His assistants settled him down, but it may have sparked the team.
The Maroons, however, proved the strong can survive.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB