THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 27, 1995 TAG: 9502270122
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Virginia lost its cool and possibly its chance for an ACC regular-season championship at the same time Sunday in a bitterly disputed 66-63 loss to Wake Forest.
The 10th-ranked Demon Deacons took advantage of two technical fouls against the 11th-ranked Cavaliers late in the first half to seize the momentum that gave them a sweep the season series.
With one league game remaining - against Maryland next Sunday - Virginia (19-7, 11-4) tumbled from a three-way tie for first place in the ACC to third place.
North Carolina and Maryland are tied for the lead at 11-3.
Wake Forest (19-5, 10-4) is a half-game behind the Cavaliers. The Deacons play North Carolina on Tuesday.
All four teams are still in contention for the regular-season title and all could wind up sharing the crown.
If the Cavaliers don't salvage a piece of the title, they have only themselves - and the Deacons - to blame.
Wake Forest, a 71-70 winner in Charlottesville last month, was struggling to hang on when the Cavaliers' Jason Williford and coach Jeff Jones were hit with successive technicals with 2:24 left in the first half.
The fireworks began when Williford was whistled for a foul by referee Duke Edsall.
Williford, who thought he was being held on the play by Wake's Rusty LaRue, shoved LaRue to the court when he realized the foul was on him.
That action brought a technical on Williford, whistled by Dick Paparo. While Jones was discussing the personal foul call with Edsall, Paparo gave him a technical, too.
LaRue bagged both of his free throws and Randolph Childress hit four straight to give the Deacons a 33-27 advantage.
``I would say (those six free throws) were fairly significant,'' Jones said afterwards.
He declined to comment further, citing a league rule that prohibits criticism of officials.
Williford was a bit more more expansive.
``I felt I was being held and then the foul was called on me,'' he said. ``I just lost my head. I didn't mean anything by it when I pushed LaRue down.''
Williford apologized to his teammates in the locker room during intermission.
``It put us in a hole that we couldn't dig out of,'' he said.
Virginia led for only 30 seconds in the second half, 42-41, on a Williford basket with 14 minutes left.
But the Cavaliers still had the chance to salvage the victory after Harold Deane's 3-pointer left them a point behind with 1:23 left.
Deane, though, had the ball stripped as he drove the lane in a bid for a go-ahead goal with about 12 seconds left.
Curtis Staples recovered the loose ball, but his shot missed and Wake's Tim Duncan snared his 15th rebound of the game.
Wake Forest freshman Tony Rutland of Hampton hit two free throws with 7.3 seconds left for a 66-63 lead and Deane's off-balance 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed the goal.
``I am glad the game didn't go into overtime,'' Wake Forest coach Dave Odom sighed. ``Our players were tired, and I think Virginia's were, too.''
Neither team was impressive offensively from the perimeter.
Childress was 5 for 15 from the field, scoring 19 points. Deane was 6 for 16 with 20 points.
Wake Forest dominated inside, getting 20 points from Duncan and 15 from forward Scooter Banks, who had 14 in the second half.
The Cavaliers, though, credited Banks' success to Childress, who had beaten them at the foul line in Charlottesville.
``Childress didn't score a lot of points, but he broke down our defense and did a great job of setting up Banks in the second half,'' Williford said.
If Wake Forest wins its final two games against North Carolina and North Carolina State, and Maryland loses to Virginia or Duke, the Deacons would claim the top seed for the ACC tournament.
If Wake, UNC, Maryland and Virginia end up tied for first at 12-4, the Deacons would be the top seed and Virginia the fourth seed, based on Wake Forest sweeping Virginia and splitting its series against North Carolina and Maryland.
The Cavaliers play a nonconference game Tuesday against Virginia Tech in Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press
[Color Photo]
Wake Forest's Tim Duncan, left, and Randolph Childress celebrate the
Demon Deacons' win over Virginia on Sunday. Duncan and Childress
combined for 39 of Wake Forest's 66 points, and Duncan snared 15
rebounds.
by CNB