THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411130235
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
With a couple American 7-footers and several players who like to shoot the 3-pointer, Team Bonus, a club team from Latvia, figured to provide a good defensive test for Norfolk State on Saturday night.
It did, but the Spartans were more than up to the task, holding Team Bonus to 39 percent shooting in a 92-72 exhibition win at Echols Arena.
The Spartans started the game with a 10-3 run and never trailed. Corey Williams led Norfolk State with 32 points, while Carnell Penn had 20 and Derrick Bryant 17.
``For the most part tonight was a very good start,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said. ``It was a good team to play for our first night. They certainly tested us, especially on defense.''
The Spartans, who have been picked to win the CIAA North and are in the top five in most Division II preseason ratings, have four starters back and five newcomers. Bernard was hoping to use Saturday's game - Norfolk State's only tuneup before its season-opener next Saturday - to gauge how far his team has come in four weeks of practice.
``Our first unit played well,'' Bernard said. ``We're going to have to work with our second a little bit.''
Williams, a 6-8 forward who is the consensus preseason player of the year in Division II, got Norfolk State off to a quick start with 20 first-half points. He then combined with Penn and Bryant to score Norfolk State's first 24 points of the second half to give the Spartans a 74-44 lead with nine minutes left.
Bryant, a 6-5 junior, shot 7-for-8 from the floor and led Norfolk State with nine rebounds.
The Spartans also got double-figure scoring from reserve center Matthew Thompson, who scored 10 points, all in the first half. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
GARY C. KNAPP
Derrick Bryant, who had 17 points and nine rebounds, shoots over
Latvia's Janis Laksa.
by CNB