ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602090067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
In a better game than any seventh- and eighth-place teams ought to play, Virginia prolonged one of the most unusual streaks in college basketball Thursday night.
The Cavaliers claimed their 11th straight victory in an overtime game, defeating North Carolina State 84-82 on a post-up jumper by Harold Deane with 1.2 seconds remaining in the second extra period.
It was the Cavaliers' 14th straight overtime victory away from home in a streak dating to 1987, when North Carolina defeated UVa 84-82 in the ACC tournament semifinals in Landover, Md.
``Oddly enough, the one guy I heard talking about the streak was [freshman] Courtney Alexander,'' UVa coach Jeff Jones said. ``I didn't say anything. I didn't want to jinx us.''
It was the second road victory in six days for Virginia, which improved its record to 10-10 overall and 4-6 in the ACC. The Cavaliers did not win a road game from Dec.9 until Saturday, when they defeated Florida State 64-59.
UVa trailed by seven points at the half in that game and was behind 38-32 at halftime Thursday, although that represented a comeback from the 33-20 deficit they faced with 3:59 remaining.
The Wolfpack (13-9, 3-7) briefly lost the lead, but never trailed during the last 14:15 of regulation. With less than four minutes remaining, State led 64-58.
Deane intercepted entry passes on three straight possessions and then hit one of two free throws to make it 64-64. However, neither team scored in the final 1:53 of regulation.
That's not to say UVa didn't have its chances. Deane missed a 3-pointer and then was called for an offensive foul with 2.3 seconds left on a drive to the basket.
The Cavaliers cleared out for Deane again in the second overtime, but this time he didn't go to the basket. He backed into defender Curtis Marshall, spun and hit a 14-foot jumper from the free-throw circle.
Moments earlier, State center Todd Fuller had hit one of two free throws to make it 82-82 with 20.5 seconds left. Deane had approached Fuller as they waited for Chris Alexander, who had fouled out, to leave the floor.
``I told him the game was in his hands,'' said Deane, whose feistiness brought a smile from State guard Curtis Marshall. ``I just wanted to see how he was going to act under those situations.''
There was no question that Deane wanted the ball at the end, particularly when he saw he was being guarded by Marshall, who, at 5-foot-11, was the shortest of a group of defenders State sent against him.
``Harold is very, very strong and has a high release and long arms,'' Jones said. ``He made a great move and just jumped over [Marshall]. It was what we wanted at the end of regulation.''
Jones said that Deane re-injured an ankle Wednesday and missed half of practice. He suffered a sprained big toe Monday and did not score in an 87-49 romp over Old Dominion.
Maybe there was some carry-over to the first half at Reynolds Coliseum. Deane missed five of his first six shots, but scored 25 points after halftime and finished with 29. It was his fifth game of 25 points or more in ACC play.
``I can't say enough about Harold Deane,'' Courtney Alexander said. ``He brings the ball up, he scores, he rebounds, he checks the best defender. I can't stress enough how valuable he is to this team.''
Alexander, a Durham, N.C., resident making his first return trip to Tobacco Road, had 17 points in the second half to finish with 20. Curtis Staples added 16, including four 3-pointers.
``First off, it was a great basketball game and it was a shame either team had to lose,'' Jones said. ``In a season where things have gone against us and we've felt sorry for ourselves at times, we just hung in there.''
Fuller had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wolfpack. Six of State's seven losses have been by five points or fewer, two in overtime. The loss was a big blow to their NCAA Tournament hopes.
``Yes, we made a couple of mistakes down the stretch and so did Virginia,'' N.C. State coach Les Robinson said. ``It's a tough loss, but you have to give credit to the Virginia guards.
``They've had some tough nights this year but they just keep shooting. They can go one-for-eight and shoot with confidence. No matter what they're shooting, they can still hit the big shots.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. UVa's Jamal Robinson dives for the ball in front ofby CNBN.C. State's Danny Strong (00) and Jeremy Hyatt (20), and UVa's
Scott Johnson (24) on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. color.