THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060616
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
The Norfolk State Spartans decided to play hard for a full 40 minutes Thursday night, and as a result, the game was over in 20.
The Spartans came out of the gate as fast as they have all season, crippling Winston-Salem State with a 21-4 opening run and cruising to a 106-72 win in a CIAA game in front of 1,200 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
``We didn't want to play 20 minutes of basketball, we wanted to play 40 minutes,'' coach Mike Bernard said. ``For the most part, we did.''
The Spartans (9-2, 3-1 CIAA) have been guilty of turning it off and on at times this season, most recently Monday night, when they trailed at halftime but came back to beat Livingstone.
``You can't always come from behind,'' forward Corey Williams said. ``Not against good teams.''
Winston-Salem (3-7, 0-4) does not fall into that category, but Norfolk State was taking no chances.
Williams, Norfolk State's 6-8 pre-season All-American, hit his first four shots and had nine points less than three minutes into the game. He had 22 at the half and a season-high 29 for the night.
``I was just getting into the flow,'' said Williams, who was 9 of 12 from the field. ``Just relaxing and letting things come to me.''
So was guard Marvin Stinson, who had a career-high 21 points off the bench. Stinson, who had been shooting just 36 percent, shot 8 for 11 and knocked down four of six from three-point range.
``He's understanding his role much better,'' Bernard said of Stinson, who was used to being the focus of the offense last year in junior college. ``He's taking a liking to it and taking pride in it.''
The entire squad can take pride in its defense. The Spartans held Winston to 37 percent shooting and outrebounded the Rams 56-36.
Many of Norfolk State's early points came off long rebounds, and the Spartans ran as much as they have all season.
``Our defense is starting to create offense for us,'' Bernard said. ``We were able to get out in transition and get some easy hoops.''
The Spartans focused much of their defensive effort on stopping Ram forward Phenizee Ransom, the team's best player. Derrick Bryant shadowed Ransom most of the first half and held him scoreless. Ransom had 19 in the second half, but most came after the outcome was long-decided and Bryant had retired to the bench.
Bryant was one of five players who grabbed at least six rebounds. All ten Spartans scored, and no one had fewer than four points.
``When we subbed we didn't lose anything,'' assistant coach Mel Coleman said. ``They were having fun.''
The Spartans have now won five in a row after a disappointing 3-2 start. They play at Johnson C. Smith Saturday afternoon. by CNB