ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602020078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
The talk along press row was that Thursday night's Virginia-Maryland men's basketball game was a preview of the ``play-in'' game at the ACC Tournament.
Maybe Maryland won't be playing that night.
Virginia might not be able to avoid it.
The Terrapins shot 57.1 percent in the second half and gave the Cavaliers co-occupancy of the ACC cellar, 80-72, at University Hall.
Virginia led 31-30 at the half and built its advantage to 43-37 with 121/2 minutes remaining, but the Terrapins (10-7 overall, 3-4 ACC) were to score on 13 of their next 14 possessions.
Keith Booth, a 6-foot-5 junior, scored 16 points during a 30-12 Terrapins' run and finished with season highs of 27 points and 16 rebounds. Johnny Rhodes added 21.
``It looked like somebody told Booth, `Just shoot it,''' Virginia coach Jeff Jones said. ``Once one went in, the second one came easier and then it just snowballed.''
Virginia's only answer was junior forward Jamal Robinson, who made his first eight shots and finished with a career-high 29 points. Robinson had scored a total of 27 points in his previous seven games.
``I felt, after the Florida State game, that I'd be fine,'' said Robinson, who had 17 points against the Seminoles in the Cavaliers' ACC opener, ``but, obviously, in that [seven-game] stretch, I wasn't fine.
``I felt, after watching tape of the last game, that I wasn't doing enough. I just told myself, I had to give more. I was still a little hesitant out there. Coming into the season, I said I wasn't going to let that happen.''
A dunk by Robinson off an alley-oop pass by Harold Deane seemed to awaken a crowd that was much smaller than the listed 7,336. Then, another Robinson bucket off an alley-oop and a 3-pointer by Curtis Staples put the Cavaliers ahead 45-40.
``After Jamal made that spectacular move [on the second alley-oop] and I hit the 3-[pointer], I thought we were in control,'' Staples said. ``It was definitely a strange game. I didn't feel we did that many things wrong.''
Staples had one of his most efficient games of the season, hitting four of six shots from the field, including three of his four 3-point attempts. He also had a career-high nine rebounds before fouling out with 1:00 remaining.
The Cavaliers (7-10, 2-6) had a 42-35 edge on the boards, but it made little difference as they lost their fifth game in a row. Only a pair of late baskets by Robinson prevented a fifth straight double-figure loss.
``I think the effort was good,'' Jones said. ``If you look at the stat sheet, the shooting percentage jumps out at you. We didn't make shots. They did, especially Booth.''
Maryland shot 50 percent for the game - only the second team to shoot 50 percent or better against Virginia this year. Virginia shot 39.7 percent and was only 4-of-20 on 3-pointers.
Deane followed up a 2-for-13 performance Sunday in the Cavaliers' 76-46 loss to Connecticut by going 2-of-13 against the Terps. Jones lamented his team's poor shot selection, but didn't mention Deane by name.
``Obviously, Harold didn't have one of his better games,'' Jones said. ""But, rather than analyzing one guy, something trying to do less and trying to do it better is the way to go.''
Jones, who instituted 6 a.m. practices this week, pulled another surprise when he inserted walk-on Mike Curtis with 15:15 remaining in the first half. Curtis promptly missed a lay-up and contributed to two turnovers.
``About a month ago, I told myself, `This kid tries to do what I say maybe more than anybody on the team,''' Jones said. ``In practice, he leads the team in charges and makes shots.''
The Cavaliers had won seven of their previous nine games against the Terrapins, including a 92-67 rout in last year's regular-season finale, when Maryland had No.1 NBA draft choice Joe Smith.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB