THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502260195
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
In a game worthy of the CIAA's 50th tournament championship, Virginia Union outlasted Norfolk State, 61-56, Saturday night to win its fourth straight tournament title in front of 13,998 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
For Norfolk State (24-5) the loss is a bump in the road, but not the end of it. The Spartans will receive a bid to the NCAA's South Atlantic Regional March 10-11.
``It's disappointing to lose a CIAA championship,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said. ``It's something everybody wanted.
``But we have an excellent ballcllub and we do have a third season.''
Still, the CIAA loss obviously stung. When a television camerman shooting the Norfolk State bench during the awards ceremony got too close for Bernard's liking, the coach first appeared to push the man away. When the camerman persisited, Bernard slapped the camera, sending part of the lens skidding across the court.
Bernard has won a national championship, at North Carolina Central, and won a South Atlantic Regional championship, but has not won the CIAA title.
The Panthers (25-4) crippled Norfolk State with an aggressive defense that limited the Spartans to 37 percent shooting.
Union held CIAA player of the year Corey Williams to nine points, on 3 of 10 shooting. Carnell Penn led the Spartans with 12 points.
``It wasn't the usual CIAA racehorse game,'' Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins said. ``It was more of a chess match.''
Norfolk State won the battle of the boards, 48-31, but couldn't get any type of perimeter game established.
The Spartans did not get much inside, either. Union's 6-foot-8 center Ben Wallace, blocked just three shots but contested many more, both inside and on the wing.
``That's the way our defense works,'' Wallace said. ``Coach designed it to get a big hand up and make them take tough shots.''
Union led, 29-28, at the half and began pulling away slowly as guards Thomas Meredith and Maurice Greene began hitting jumpers from the corners.
Union took its biggest lead, 50-42, with 6:56 remaining. Norfolk State had cut it to five when Union's Jay Butler was given a technical foul for taunting.
The technical was costly, resulting in a five-point swing.
Norfolk State tied the game, 56-56, on a Maurice Whitfield trey with 2:35 left.
The Spartans didn't score again, however. With Union ahead, 59-56, Norfolk State had a final chance after calling timeout with 21 seconds left.
Norfolk State couldn't get a good shot, however. Whitfield's long trey attempt missed with five seconds left, Wallace rebounded and the game was over.
Bernard said he had intended CIAA player of the year Corey Williams to take the final shot.
``We got the ball in his hands and he didn't shoot it,'' he said. ``I don't understand what happened.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Maurice Whitfield of Norfolk State, right, soars to defend against
Perry Morris of Virginia Union which won its fourth straight CIAA
tournament title in front of 13,998 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
by CNB