ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 17, 1997 TAG: 9702190039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
OFFICIALS AWARD a 3-point goal at the buzzer that shouldn't have been.
A blown call by officials has the Atlantic Coast Conference back in the spotlight again, and this time the gaffe contributed to a shuffle atop the league standings.
North Carolina State stunned second-ranked Wake Forest with a 60-59 overtime victory Sunday. The winning shot was made by Clint Harrison, who was given credit for a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime - even though his foot was touching the arc.
``I haven't seen a replay and I don't want to,'' a jubilant Harrison said. ``It was a tough call for the referees to make, and I'm sure they used the best judgment they could.''
Television replays showed that Harrison launched the shot in time but that his left foot was on the line. Officials Sam Croft, Raymie Styons and Mike Wood looked at each other, agreed that it was a 3-pointer and ran off the floor, letting the Wolfpack players pile on each other in a wild celebration that lasted several minutes near the basket where Harrison banked in the winner from the left wing.
``It's not just what we did today, but what this team has done each step along the way,'' first-year Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek said after N.C. State (10-12 overall, 2-11 ACC) won for the first time in nine league road games. ``This team has worked very hard to get to the spot that they reached today.''
Wake Forest (20-3, 9-3) fell one-half game behind league leader Duke (21-5, 10-3) despite getting 25 points and 18 rebounds from Tim Duncan.
``This is a difficult loss, but nobody died,'' said coach Dave Odom, whose Demon Deacons have won the past two conference titles. ``What you do is try to regroup. We have a difficult assignment going to Chapel Hill on Wednesday [to play North Carolina], but I guarantee you this team will be ready.''
This was the second ACC game in five days in which a blown call by officials helped decide the outcome. Duke defeated Virginia 62-61 Tuesday night after officials mismanaged the clock and an attempted substitution in the closing seconds. The ACC suspended the three officials involved in that incident for one game each.
Fred Barakat, the ACC's head of officials, had a courtside seat for Sunday's game at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, but he left at halftime.
Odom said he had not seen a replay of Harrison's basket.
``It wouldn't make any difference if I had,'' he said.
Sendek offered a similar perspective.
``Both sides will go back and look at the game and say, `What if' for many plays,'' he said.
Harrison finished with 21 points for the Wolfpack, which had lost nine games this season to ranked teams, including seven in the Top 10.
Duncan picked up three fouls in the first nine minutes but stayed in and wound up playing 44 minutes. The Demon Deacons also got 16 points from Tony Rutland.
There were four lead changes and two ties in overtime before Benjamin banked in a runner in the lane to put the Wolfpack up 57-55 with 1:13 left.
Rutland tied the score with two free throws at the 55-second mark.
Harrison missed a 30-footer as the shot clock expired on the Wolfpack's next possession, and Wake Forest got the rebound with 17 seconds left. Rutland brought the ball upcourt, drove to the foul line and launched a 15-footer that swished through.
The Wolfpack got the ball to halfcourt and gave it to the 6-foot-4 Harrison, who took several dribbles and launched the ball over the outstretched arms of 6-10 Ricky Peral for the game-winner.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB