THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050604
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Like a lingering cold, Winston-Salem State hung around long enough to inflict a bit of misery upon Norfolk State Thursday night.
But while there is no cure for the common cold, the Spartans had Derrick Bryant. The 6-foot-4 senior forward scored 14 second-half points, including six straight during a crucial stretch, as the Spartans pulled away to post a 75-62 victory over the Rams at Echols Arena.
Bryant finished with a season-high 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Spartans improved to 6-1 overall, 2-0 in the CIAA.
``In the second half, we concentrated on getting the ball inside, specifically to Derrick,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said. ``We hadn't done much inside at all in the first half.''
That was partially the result of the Rams (2-8, 1-2) consistently sending five players to the boards. Mixed with Spartans center Blitz Wooten's foul troubles - two quick fouls limited him to seven first-half minutes - Norfolk State found itself outrebounded 17-13 at the half by the smaller Rams.
The Spartans led 33-30 at the half after Carnell Penn canned his third 3-pointer. But there was a measure of uneasiness in the locker room.
``I stressed three things at halftime: getting the ball inside, getting some rebounds and getting some easy hoops in transition,'' Bernard said.
``The problem was twofold,'' Penn said. ``They crashed the boards, but we didn't play with a lot of intensity. They were getting two and three opportunities while we were getting one.''
Leading 41-39 with five minutes gone in the second half, the Spartans began to reverse the trend as Bryant scored on two offensive rebounds and a mid-range, fade-away jumper to up the lead to 47-39.
``He's our go-to guy when we need important points and rebounds,'' Penn said. ``And tonight, with Blitz in foul trouble, we really needed it.''
A few minutes later, Rodney Carmichael scored on a reverse layup in transition for a 51-41 lead and the Spartans were out of danger.
Penn finished with 21 points, including a crowd-pleasing alley-oop dunk in the waning seconds, Carmichael added 14 points and point guard Maurice Whitfield chipped in with 13 points and nine assists.
Guard Carlos Mumford led the Rams with 20 points.
``We took it personally that they outrebounded us in the first half,'' Bryant said. ``We made a pledge to ourselves that if wasn't going to happen in the second half.''
The teams finished deadlocked in rebounds with 31.
Bryant had a deeper concern: The Spartans seem to be playing down to the level of competition. Norfolk State's last three wins have come against teams that are a combined 9-21. Saturday, Johnson C. Smith comes in with a 4-5 record.
Bryant just hopes when the time comes the Spartans will likewise be able to play up to much better competition.
``I think when we have a big game, we'll be ready,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Richard L. Dunston, The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk State's Derrick Bryant grabs a rebound against Winston-Salem
State on Thursday.
by CNB