ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 6, 1996 TAG: 9612060048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The Virginia Tech men's basketball team didn't wait until this morning to start looking for a shovel.
The Hokies had theirs out Thursday night. And they buried East Tennessee State with it in Tech's home opener.
Responding with a vengeance to their first back-to-back losses since 1994-95, the aroused Hokies smothered the Buccaneers in an 83-41 avalanche at Cassell Coliseum.
With the exception of freshman forward Jesus Rodriguez, who plans to redshirt this season, every Hokie hit double figures in minutes and all but Myron Guillory scored as Tech (2-2) rolled in front of 3,254 die-hard fans.
As good as that news was, there was some bad news for Tech. The Hokies lost senior forward David Jackson, the club's ``best outside shooter'' according to coach Bill Foster, for an estimated three to four weeks because of a sprained left knee. Jackson, starting in place of his brother, Jim, had 12 points in 17 minutes before being injured during a scrap for a loose ball with 16:22 to play.
``The ball was on the ground and Keefe [Matthews, Tech's starting center] dove for it,'' said David Jackson, on crutches after the game. ``I went down and when Keefe rolled, I was getting up. He rolled on my calf, and when I got up, I was going one way and he pushed it the other. It just locked up.''
Jackson, who had won the starting job on the basis of his play during Tech's season-opening Hawaii trip, had been impressive to that point, with a double-double in points (12) and floor burns.
``I hate to see David get hurt when he's playing well,'' Foster said. ``But I can remember two years ago that he got hurt and nobody thought he'd play against Tulane and he gets 25 points in 27 minutes with an ankle as big as my head.
``We need what he brings to the floor. Those hustle plays he makes the freshmen hadn't seen that yet. They need to see that and maybe it will get a little contagious.''
Jackson, basically Tech's only effective outside shooter thus far, will be re-examined today, team physician Dr. Duane Lagan said.
Jackson said don't bother reading the rehabilitation timetable.
``I'll be back early I'll be back quicker than what people are saying,'' he said. ``I've been in this situation before two years ago with my ankle, so I think I'll heal pretty quick.
``It's a little [disappointing] because I feel good out there. Basketball is 90 percent confidence and I was just starting to get that, and now this.''
The Hokies started as though they still were suffering from jet lag. It was 16-16 through 12 minutes.
Then Tech lit its jets, outscoring the rebuilding Bucs 18-5 the rest of the half. The Hokies scored 19 of the first 23 points of the second half as the visitors went nearly nine minutes without scoring.
Ace Custis paced Tech with 18 points in 26 minutes. Freshman Russ Wheeler hit all five of his shots for 11 points, and redshirt freshman Andre Ray had 10 in his first college start in Guillory's two-guard spot.
``We've told 'em we're going to take the five guys who grade the highest the last game and play 'em,'' Foster said.
``That's not going to be an every-game scenario, but it gets those interested in seeing why they graded low.''
There weren't many in that category Thursday.
Tech, which plays Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cassell, shot 61.3 percent from the floor and held ETSU (2-2) to 37.5 percent.
``Believe me,'' Foster said, ``we've still got a lot of work to do. We played better defensively, but rebounding is still a problem.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Virginia Tech forward Ace Custis goes toby CNBthe glass for two of his 18 points in 26 minutes Thursday night
during the Hokies' 83-41 rout of East Tennessee State.