THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090468
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
The Virginia Cavaliers may have lost point guard Cory Alexander for the season Wednesday night in yet another come-from-behind ACC victory over North Carolina State, 65-55.
Alexander injured the same right ankle that he fractured last season in the opening game.
Dr. Frank McCue, the team physician, said X-rays revealed a line in the same area as last season's fracture but it was not conclusive if it was residue from the old injury or a new fracture.
McCue said further tests would be made today.
``If it is a new fracture, he will not be back (this season),'' McCue said.
Alexander, a redshirt junior, missed all of last year after the injury against Connecticut in the season opener.
He has another year of eligibility, but announced before the beginning of the season he would not play a fourth year.
Alexander reinjured the ankle in a scramble with N.C. State's Clint Harrison at 8:29 in the first half. He walked off the court unassisted.
``We are hoping it is just a sprain and nothing too serious,'' Virginia coach Jeff Jones said.
``But if he is not back, we will find a way to fight through this.''
Meanwhile, on the scoreboard it was business as usual for the Cavaliers (14-6, 7-3), who remained one game behind ACC leaders North Carolina and Maryland.
They fell behind N.C. State (10-10, 2-8) by nine points in the first half, while saving their best for the final 20 minutes.
Down 32-28 at intermission, they outscored the Wolfpack, 16-4, in the first nine minutes of the second half to take control of the game.
``We keep making it hard on ourselves,'' Jones said. ``But it is still better to not play well and win than to play great and lose.''
Freshman guard Curtis Staples, who missed all three of his first-half shots, powered the second-half explosion.
He sank his first 3-pointer at 12:02 in the second half for a 43-36 Virginia lead and hit two more when the Wolfpack attempted a comeback.
``Staples' 3-pointers really broke our back,'' N.C. State coach Les Robinson said.
Staples said he is mystified by the Cavaliers' lackluster first-halves, which have become almost routine.
``We were really fired up to go out and get started early. We talked about it all week, but we couldn't make it happen,'' he said.
``We all know that we can't keep on getting behind and coming back in the second half in this league. It's bound to catch up with us if we do.''
Staples' biggest concern, though, was with Alexander, the team's second-leading scorer with a 17.5 average.
``The tone of coach Jones' voice scared me when he told us about the injury,'' said Staples, who will move into a starting role if Alexander does not return.
``I really hope Cory is all right. He is our leader and we need him out there. My prayers go out to him.''
The Wolfpack learned earlier in the day that they will be without starting forward Bryant Feggins for probably the remainder of the season.
Robinson said the 6-foot-6, 245-pound senior had been suspended from the team for violating university policy. He declined to specify the violation.
``It doesn't look like he will be back, but I expect him to get his degree in June, and that's the big prize,'' Robinson said.
N.C. State's losing streak grew to six games despite a solid performance by center Todd Fuller, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds.
The Wolfpack, though, seemed to forget about its 6-foot-11 center after intermission, getting only a pair of field goals from freshman Ishua Benjamin in the first nine minutes of the second half.
By the time they rediscovered Fuller, the Cavaliers had opened a 46-36 advantage.
Fuller helped N.C. State reduce the lead to 56-51 before the Cavaliers pulled away again in the final 1:35.
Virginia, 0-for-6 from the free throw line in the first half, then made its first seven in the final half.
The Cavaliers go on the road to Clemson for their next ACC game Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS color photo
Cory Alexander played 11 minutes before he injured the same right
ankle that took him out of last season.
by CNB