THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412180245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
How laid-back was Norfolk State's 115-92 exhibition win over Sundance Basketball Club Saturday night?
Consider: former Norfolk State point guard Sean Bell was sitting in the stands with his girlfriend before the game when Sundance player-coach David Tillman approached him.
``He said, `Hey, man, do you play?' '' Bell said. `` `We've only got six, and we need help.' ''
Bell provided some help, but not enough to keep Sundance, a club team from State College, Pa., from becoming practice fodder for the Spartans.
Which is exactly what Norfolk State wanted. The Spartans, who had not played since last Saturday, were looking for a tuneup for Tuesday night's game against Morehouse College.
``We do have a game Tuesday and we didn't want to be out 10 days,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said.
Even so, the Spartans were hoping for more than just a good run. Through five games, Norfolk State is 3-2 and has been inconsistent on both ends of the floor. Saturday's game provided a chance to iron some things out.
``The big thing we need to do is work on some consistency,'' Bernard said. ``To get better defensively and get some continuity offensively.
``For the most part, we were able to accomplish those goals.''
The good news offensively is that forward Corey Williams, who has been mired in a shooting slump, broke out with 26 points on 10 for 19 shooting. Carnell Penn also had 26 points, with four 3-pointers, as the Spartans shot 51 percent.
Sundance, however, shot 53 percent. Its inside players, Rudy and Randy Burruss, were a combined 13 of 17.
``We're still dissatisfied with our defense,'' Bernard said.
Sundance was small, and, as Bell's recruitment attests, short-handed. The team beat Division I St. Francis (Pa.) earlier this season, but two of its top players didn't make the trip, Tillman said.
As for Norfolk State, all 10 players played and nine of them scored. Reserve center Deng Leek had a career-high 10 points and walk-on swingman Sherman Warner had a career-high 8.
Bell, who started for the Spartans last season, had 14 points. by CNB