THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601210293
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
In a typical Basketball 101 class, the equation would have added up to a loss for the Norfolk State Spartans.
The ``X'' factor had the Spartans' best two players - Derrick Bryant and Carnell Penn - having two of their worst nights of the season.
They ``Y'' factor was foul trouble up and down the Spartans' lineup.
The ``Z'' factor was an inspired and rapidly improving Elizabeth City State squad.
Nobody, however, counted on the ``R'' factor.
Rodney Carmichael, starting for the first time in two weeks, scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, both career highs, to lift the Spartans to an 88-83 victory over the Vikings at jam-packed Vaughan Center.
In front of a crowd of 5,735, Carmichael hit six of his first seven shots from the field in the game's first 11 minutes - most on mid-range jumpers off the dribble - as the Spartans (10-2 overall, 6-1 in the CIAA) exploded for a 23-8 lead.
``I never dreamed we'd have to stop him,'' said first-year Vikings coach Barry Hamler. ``His boxscores hadn't been that good all year.''
With Bryant and Penn held to 11 points below their combined scoring average, Carmichael's timing couldn't have been better.
``They put their two best defensive players on me and Carnell and it was just one of those nights,'' Bryant said.
Despite the 15-point deficit in the first half, the Vikings (7-8, 2-2) clawed back and tied the game four times in the second half, the last time coming at 63-63.
Theron Curry, who canned five 3-pointers and had 27 points, and Maurice Mincey, who finished with 24 points, were the primary catalysts for the Vikings (7-8, 2-2).
``Curry's got such a quick release that he's hard to stop,'' said Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard. ``He just kept going out further and further. Those were some tough shots.''
The Spartans took the lead for good with six minutes left when reserve guard Carlton Cooper canned a 3-pointer for a 66-63 lead.
With Penn in foul trouble throughout, Cooper played a season-high 15 minutes and responded with a season-high 10 points.
``He had to play tonight and he took his time and chose his shots well,'' Bernard said. ``That's two things he's had problems with. But not tonight.''
Center Blitz Wooten was also in foul trouble but somehow managed 17 points and eight rebounds, many of those coming at critical points for the Spartans.
Twelve of Wooten's points came after he'd picked up his third foul early in the second half.
``If he can stay in the game, he can be a factor for us,'' Bernard said. ``I thought he was the best center in the league at the end of last season.
``To this point, he hasn't played well this season. But he got us some big points and turned in some big defensive plays tonight.'' by CNB