THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Virginia had to go into double overtime Sunday to overcome itself, but the Cavaliers finally finished the long afternoon with an 88-85 victory over Georgia Tech to remain atop of the ACC standings.
Cory Alexander, whose mental lapses helped Virginia blow a seven-point lead in the first overtime, sank a pair of 3-pointers in the second session to clinch the victory.
It was the seventh consecutive overtime victory for the Cavaliers (11-4, 5-1), who have not lost in extra minutes since a 1991 game against Maryland.
Only eight days ago, the 18th-ranked Cavaliers defeated Duke in another double-overtime thriller, and it was their second straight overtime win over Georgia Tech (11-6, 2-3).
``I was afraid that I had cost us the game in that first overtime,'' Alexander said. ``But when we got into the second one, I knew we were going to win.''
A three-point play by Junior Burrough provided Virginia a 78-71 lead at 2:22 in the first overtime.
Georgia Tech jumped back into the game about a minute later when Drew Barry stole the ball from Alexander and drove the court for a layup.
As Alexander attempted to in-bound the ball, Barry swiped it again and passed to Matt Harpring for a layup that cut Virginia's lead to 78-75.
Georgia Tech's Travis Best sank a 3-pointer with two seconds left to tie the score and put the game in the second overtime.
Alexander's first 3-pointer in the second session tied the game, 81-81, and his second, with 30 seconds left, gave Virginia an 86-85 lead.
Following a miss by Best, the Cavaliers confirmed the victory on a pair of free throws by Harold Deane.
Deane, who made only 2 of 12 field goals for 10 points, contributed several other big plays that were crucial to the victory.
With 1:07 left in regulation, Deane pump-faked freshman Harpring off his feet, then slid under him to draw the foul.
He hit two free throws for a 68-66 lead, but Georgia Tech tied the score on a basket by Michael Maddox.
Deane blocked a shot by Best from the right of the key to send the game into the first overtime.
``I knew he (Best) was going to take the last shot,'' Deane said.
Georgia Tech knew Alexander was going to take the final shot for Virginia, too, after taking an 85-83 lead on two free throws by Best with 41 seconds left in the second overtime.
During a timeout following Best's free throws, Alexander asked coach Jeff Jones if he should look for a quick shot or run down the clock.
``I told him he was on his own, but to be aggressive and take the first good shot available,'' Jones said.
Alexander drilled the shot off a Jason Williford screen that wiped out defender Best.
``I wanted the chance to win it after what happened in the first overtime,'' Alexander said.
He admitted to carelessly losing the ball on the first turnover when Barry drove for the layup. But he wasn't sure the second steal was his fault.
``I had not thrown the ball inbounds when he (Barry) knocked it from my hands,'' Alexander said.
``But there was no technical foul called, so it was a smart play on his part.''
Jones said he felt his team was demoralized going into the second overtime after the collapse.
``We didn't have the same feeling as we had before,'' Jones said. ``That feeling didn't change until Cory hit his second 3-pointer in the second overtime.''
``I thought we were going to win, but Alexander kept hitting those big 3-pointers for them,'' Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said.
``We tried to mix up our defenses, but they just killed us. Virginia is an excellent team.'' ILLUSTRATION: Virginia 88
Georgia Tech 85
by CNB