ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603080083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: ACC TOURNAMENT
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
It's almost impossible to blow a 19-0 lead in basketball, as North Carolina State demonstrated Thursday night in the ACC tournament.
On a night when only the 35-second clocks were less effective than Florida State, Wolfpack coach Les Robinson finally experienced victory in the play-in game between the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.
It was the fourth consecutive appearance in the game for State, which led by double figures most of the way in an 80-65 victory at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The 'Pack, which stopped a six-game skid, improved its record to 15-15. State meets top-seeded Georgia Tech (20-10) in this afternoon's second quarterfinal at 2:30.
``When I walked in here tonight, Les told me, `Welcome to the Les Robinson Invitational,''' said Pat Kennedy, Florida State's coach. ``It really didn't hit me till later on, but that team could have won 18, 19 or 20 games.''
In reality, the Wolfpack didn't play as well Thursday night as it had in some of its losses. State, which had lost nine games by a total of 28 points, shot 42.9 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers.
The Seminoles (13-14) outrebounded the Wolfpack 51-42, but shot 28.8 percent. Leading scorer James Collins was 3-for-17, including 0-for-10 from 3-point range.
``We played about as poorly as we can play,'' said Kennedy, whose team finished with a losing record for the third consecutive season. ``Obviously, it was not the most beautiful game we've had on ESPN.''
There were 60 fouls called - 36 against the Seminoles - and the 35-second clock broke down twice. When the game ended, neither clock was functional, but that didn't bother Robinson.
``It's the first time we've advanced since we had Chris Corchiani and Rodney Monroe and I was a good coach,'' said Robinson, whose future has been the subject of much speculation. ``I was coaching really good right then. But, it's like I was telling my assistants, you should win the game if it's named after you.''
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB