THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Old Dominion had the UNC Wilmington Seahawks right where it wanted them Saturday, but couldn't keep them there.
UNC Wilmington came back from an 11-point deficit and withstood an errant running shot by ODU's Brion Dunlap as time wound down to win, 73-71, at rocking Trask Coliseum. UNC Wilmington students stormed the court after the victory, which tightened the Colonial Athletic Association race heading into the final week of the regular season.
But Old Dominion retained first place with a one-game lead over James Madison - which was upset Saturday at George Mason - and UNC Wilmington (15-7, 9-3).
``We took care of business the first 35 minutes, but the last five minutes we folded and gave them the game,'' ODU senior guard Mike Jones said.
Jones was not pointing fingers at teammates. He said his failure to stop Chris Meighen's 3-pointer with 39 seconds left - which gave UNC Wilmington its first lead since late in the first half - was a pivotal play in the game.
Old Dominion led by 11 points when David Harvey made a short hook in the lane with 6:42 to play. That would be the Monarchs' lone field goal during the game's final 8:58.
During that span, however, ODU made 12 of 14 foul shots.
But they were not doing the little things that could have snuffed out the Seahawks. During UNC Wilmington's comeback, eight of 14 points came following offensive rebounds, including two buckets following missed free throws.
ODU coach Jeff Capel said the biggest play of that stretch was Seahawk Darren Moore's stick-back of Corey Stewart's missed 3-pointer with 1:51 to play. Capel said the Monarchs switched to zone for that possession to protect three interior players - Petey Sessoms, Harvey and Mario Mullen - who all had four fouls. In the zone, someone failed to block out.
``If we rebound that basketball with 1:50 to go, they've got to foul us and we go to the line and maybe it's a different outcome,'' Capel said.
Instead, Moore's basket cut it to 70-67. Jones missed an open baseline jumper, and then committed his fourth foul on Preston McGriff at 1:18. McGriff made the first one and missed the second, but a lane violation was called on Harvey. McGriff made the second chance.
Sessoms went to the line with 1:07 remaining and made 1 of 2 to give ODU a 71-69 edge. Then Meighen made his 3-pointer from the corner with 39 seconds left for a 72-71 UNCW lead.
In the closing seconds, the Monarchs had three chances on offense, and in each case freshman point guard Dunlap took the shot. Dunlap had the best offensive game of his college career with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, but couldn't hit the crucial shot in the closing seconds.
His first one was a drive to the basket that was blocked by McGriff and started a fast break. Jones committed his fifth foul as Meighen went up for the layup, which rolled off the rim. Meighen made 1 of 2 free throws for a 73-71 Seahawks lead with 25 seconds left.
Dunlap shot again with 18 seconds left, and the miss was batted out of bounds by UNC Wilmington. ODU, trailing by two, called time with 16 seconds remaining.
``We wanted to get the ball to Petey,'' Capel said.
Sessoms ended up with the ball at the top of the key, guarded by Meighen. He drove the lane, and Seahawk Lamont Franklin left Dunlap to double-team Sessoms. Sessoms passed to Dunlap, whose running one-handed 8-foot shot bounced off and was rebounded by McGriff as time expired.
``I haven't had a chance to ask Petey why he passed it, but we wanted him to take the last shot,'' Capel said. ``He's a senior, he's been our leader all year long.
``I was surprised that he put the ball on the floor and penetrated inside the arc, because with the foul situation and on the road, we were going for three. We were going for the win, we were not playing for a tie with the situation we were in.''
The Monarchs struggled all game with UNC Wilmington's big bodies inside. Moore (7 of 10) and McGriff (8 of 10) both had 21 points and combined for 15 rebounds. Both weigh more than 250 pounds and are taller than anyone the Monarchs had to defend them.
UNC Wilmington coach Jerry Wainwright had a simple offensive strategy: ``Fifty-two and 41, let's make sure they touch it,'' he said, referring to the numbers worn by Moore and McGriff. ``They were getting the ball in the right spot and finishing plays.''
ODU tried several different approaches, but nothing slowed the Seahawks' physical interior attack.
``In the first half, they were fronting us and that gave us a chance to lob over the top,'' McGriff said. ``In the second half they played behind us, and that gave us a chance to get the ball and work one-on-one.''
Sessoms scored 17 and Mullen and Dunlap added 15 for the Monarchs, who had to work hard for shots against UNC Wilmington's defense, but made 46 percent from the field.
ODU and UNC Wilmington both have remaining road games at East Carolina - the Monarchs are there Monday - and home dates with William and Mary. James Madison has American at home and Richmond on the road. by CNB