THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503150122
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Kevin Ollie of Connecticut, one of the mainstays on the Big East regular-season championship team, has accepted an invitation to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Connecticut was ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation earlier in the season, finishing regular-season play at 25-4, and is seeded second in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
Ollie, a 6-4, 195-pound guard, shattered the school record for assists a year ago when he served off for 209 baskets. Ollie carried a 13.3 point scoring average.
Also accepting invitations to play in the 43rd annual PIT, scheduled April 5-8 in the Churchland High School gym, are Theo Ratliff of Wyoming and Matt Maloney of Pennsylvania.
Ratliff, a 6-10 forward/center, moved into the top 10 all-time shotblockers in college basketball this year.
Maloney, a 6-3, 192-pound guard, has been an All-Ivy League player for three consecutive seasons. He led the Quakers in scoring, 3-point field goals and steals. He transferred to Penn after playing his freshman year at Vanderbilt. His father is an assistant coach at Temple.
Earlier PIT invitations were accepted by Old Dominion's Petey Sessoms, Duke's Erik Meek, Arkansas' Corey Beck, James Madison's Kent Culuko and Holy Cross' Robert Feaster.
The tournament will feature 64 college seniors, eight players on eight teams.
In an effort to sell out the 3,200-seat Churchland gym for the four tournament nights, the PIT this year is offering reserved group ticket sales for the first time.
One firm already has purchased 300 seats.
``This is a great opportunity for organizations to provide valuable PIT tickets to employees, customers, clients, members, families and friends at a very nominal price,'' said PIT chairman Mahlon Parker.
``Single ticket prices at the door are $6.25. A group block of 10 tickets sells for $52.50, 25 tickets are only $100 and 100 tickets are just $300.
``A sellout of the gym can enable us to increase our contributions to charities and provide additional college scholarships for students.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Kevin Ollie will be in the Portsmouth Invitational tourney.
Theo Ratliff of Wyoming also will play in the PIT.
by CNB