THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 1, 1995 TAG: 9502010599
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
If all of Mike Bernard's wins were this nerve-wracking, the Norfolk State coach might have quit long before reaching number 200.
Then again, if they're all this exhilarating, Bernard might coach long enough to win another 200.
Norfolk State's Spartans gave Bernard his 200th career victory Tuesday night, a double-overtime, 92-88 decision over Hampton University in front of a capacity crowd of 7,295 at HU's Convocations Center.
The Spartans blew a 16-point second-half lead but finally settled the matter in the second overtime as the shooting hand of Hampton's JaFonde Williams finally went cold.
Williams, a 6-1 junior, had 47 points, 35 after halftime, and almost single-handedly kept Hampton in the game.
``It was an emotional game,'' Bernard said. ``I'm just glad to be a part of 200 wins.''
The win was third-ranked Norfolk State's 14th in a row. The Spartans (17-2, 6-1 CIAA North) are also now two games up on Hampton (15-5, 5-3) in the CIAA North.
``Our kids hung in there and showed a lot of character in overtime,'' Bernard said. ``But we did a terrible job on free throws. We're going to have to play a lot better than that.''
Norfolk State hit just 26 of 45 from the line, while Hampton made 20 of 26.
The Spartans couldn't do anyting will Williams, but Hampton had nearly as much trouble containing Norfolk State's frontcourt of Corey Williams, Blitz Wooten and Derrick Bryant, who combined for 57 points and 30 rebounds.
Norfolk State's Williams scored 17 first-half points to stake Norfolk State to a 13-point lead, but the All-American forward was the second best Williams on the floor Tuesday night.
Norfolk State stretched its lead to 16 early in the second half before Hampton's Williams began heating up.
The junior, who prefers to be called J.J., got his J going early in the half, scoring the first eight points for the Pirates to cut the lead down to 12.
A pair of free throws by Williams about five minutes later cut it to eight. A Williams drive cut the margin to five with 5:41 left. A Williams trey trimmed it to three, 67-64, with 3:33 left.
Williams finally brought Hampton all the way back with a spin move and short jumper in the lane that tied it at 73 with 10 seconds left.
The Spartans called time with nine seconds left, but didn't get a shot off before the clock expired on regulation.
The first overtime was more Williams, as he canned a long trey from the left side to tie the game at 80 with 20 seconds left.
But Hampton went cold in the second extra session. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Corey Williams led Norfolk State with 25 points Tuesday, but wasn't
the top Williams on the floor. That honor went to Hampton's JaFonde,
who scored 35 of his 47 points after halftime.
by CNB