ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
In Dr. Jerry Falwell's house, the prayers of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team were answered Thursday night.
Taking care of business in front of a record Vines Center crowd of 9,003, the Hokies handled the offering plates and collected a 59-47 victory over upset-minded Liberty University.
Tech's fifth victory in six games boosted it to 10-7, marking the first time the Hokies have been three games above .500 this season.
``This was a good win for us because this is not an easy place to play,'' said Tech coach Bill Foster, whose 527th career victory tied him with Hugh Durham for 32nd on the all-time Division I coaching list.
Troy Manns, whose improved play at point guard has coincided with Tech's recent success, and Ace Custis paced the Hokies with 14 points apiece. Jim Jackson added 11 points.
However, the real star for Tech was backup center Russ Wheeler. The freshman came in and helped slow down Liberty's 6-foot-10 center, Peter Aluma, who scored eight of his 15 points in the first 8 1/2 minutes against Tech's Keefe Matthews.
``I don't think there was anything more key to this game than Wheeler's play,'' Foster said. ``Early on, it didn't look like we were going to be able to stop Aluma. But Russ did a good defensive job on him and hit a couple of big baskets in the second half.''
Look for the 6-8, 220-pound Wheeler to see more action down the stretch, Foster said.
``He's kind of growing on all of us,'' Foster said. ``The kids have a lot of confidence in him and he's getting better and better. He's the only wide-body we've got, and he get puts it on people and doesn't dodge contact.''
Liberty (12-7) just didn't play well enough to stay with Tech. The Flames were doused by 17 turnovers and poor shooting (20-for-48) from the floor.
Guard Larry Jackson had 18 points, but most of his damage came late after the verdict was settled. Aluma finished with 15 points.
Foster, who is retiring at the end of the season, was given a rocking chair in a pregame ceremony led by Liberty coach Jeff Meyer.
``I'm not ready for it yet,'' Foster said. ``That'll go nice on the porch one day. It's the first thing I've gotten. I'll probably get an old jock from the Atlantic 10.''
The two clubs could have traded the rocking chair in the first half. Both seem to sleep through most of the opening 20 minutes.
Both teams took turns at dozing off. Tech, after scoring three points in the first 7 1/2 minutes, finally woke up long enough to embark on a 15-5 run that give it an 18-13 lead.
Despite shooting 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from the floor, the Hokies led 21-17 at halftime.
Liberty, which took a five-minute nap after taking a 10-5 lead, could find offense only through Aluma, who hit five of six shots for 10 points. The rest of the Flames were a combined 3-for-12 for seven points. Eleven turnovers didn't help the hosts' cause.
Liberty never could catch Tech in the second half. Tech scored five straight points early in the half - three coming off a possession after a technical foul was called on Meyer - to quickly turn a six-point game into a 11-point cushion.
The Flames drew to 54-47 on Jackson's fourth 3-pointer with 35 seconds left, but it was too late. Manns put the game on ice with three free throws in the final seconds.
The Hokies were glad to get out of town with a victory. This one had all the makings of a ``trap'' game.
``I don't think scared was the word coming in here,'' Manns said. ``I was excited coming in this place. Ace and Jim had told me what it was like two years ago. I like playing in front of big crowds with all the excitement.''
It's especially fun when you win.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN STAFF. 1. Virginia Tech guard Troy Mannsby CNB(left) puts up a shot over Liberty defender Mark Reed. Manns and the
Hokies rose to the occasion and beat the Flames 59-47 before a
record crowd in Lynchburg. 2. Larry Jackson (4) of Liberty avoids
Jim Jackson of the Hokies, who crashes the boards.