THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 23, 1996 TAG: 9601230392
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
After facing top-ranked Virginia Union on Thursday and surviving a nail-biter Saturday at Elizabeth City State, the Norfolk State Spartans returned home in dire need of a breather Monday night.
Bowie State answered the call in grand fashion.
The Spartans ran their series record against the Bulldogs to 38-0 with a 116-57 victory at Echols Arena, dissecting Bowie State with an offensive performance they have been waiting for all season.
Norfolk State (11-2 overall, 7-1 in the CIAA) scored on its first 12 possessions and never took the foot off the pedal.
The 59-point margin of victory was the Spartans' largest since beating - who else? - Bowie State 117-53 in the 1984-85 season.
Following a 76-60 loss to the top-ranked team in Division II and an 88-83 victory at Elizabeth City State, the Spartans were dog-tired.
``I was so relieved when we had a one-hour practice Sunday,'' said senior guard Carnell Penn, who was one of five Spartans in double figures with 18 points. ``When I got home Saturday night, my head hit the pillow and I fell right asleep.''
The adequate rest apparently did some good, for the Spartans were wide awake at game time, shooting a season-high 62 percent (44 of 71) from the field. All five starters shot 50 percent or better, and the Spartans were 6 of 7 from 3-point range. In fact, every Spartan to attempt a field goal shot 50 percent or better.
The 116 points was the Spartans' largest output since a 134-90 victory over Shaw in the 1986-87 season.
Senior forward Derrick Bryant led the Spartans with a season-high 26 points and his 11 rebounds helped Norfolk State post a 47-32 edge in rebounding.
Junior forward Rodney Carmichael, who on Monday was named CIAA player of the week following a 30-point performance at Elizabeth City State, came out on fire again, scoring 13 first-half points on a series of acrobatic drives and dunks, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds.
While Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard had been prodding Carmichael to elevate his game, Bryant said the secret to Carmichael's recent success rests in a trip from overseas by his father Willie.
``His dad's been in town from Germany the last couple of days and that's really pumped him up,'' Bryant said. ``He's wanted to put on a show.''
Point guard Maurice Whitfield added 14 points and center Blitz Wooten had 13 points and eight rebounds. The bench even accounted for a season-high 24 points.
Bowie State (5-10, 3-6) was led in scoring by Marquis Melton's 16 points.
After racing to a 52-32 halftime lead, the Spartans repeated their quick explosion in the second half as Penn canned long 3-pointers on Norfolk State's first two trips down court.
The Spartans reached the century mark with six minutes remaining when Bryant went high for a transition alley-oop pass from Carlton Cooper. In fact, the pass was too high. But Bryant somehow reached behind his head, controlled the pass and converted the basket. It was that kind of night.
``I think we're recognizing now that we can be much better than we've been so far,'' Bernard said. ``And we got that kind of performance tonight from the first guy through to the 13th.''
In women's action, the Norfolk State Spartanettes, behind 26 points by LaTina Bullock, downed Bowie State 98-59 as they remained unbeaten and handed the Lady Bulldogs their first CIAA loss of the season.
Bullock paced a starting front line that accounted for 61 points as Selena Edward added 16 points and Michelle Sessoms had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Spartanettes (17-0 overall, 8-0 in the CIAA) made 56.5 percent of their field goal attempts while limiting the Lady Bulldogs to 24.4 percent.
Bowie State (11-4, 8-1) was led by Brandey Lemons' 16 points. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/ The Virginian-Pilot
Bowie State's Dwayne Moore looks for a way out against Norfolk State
defenders Derrick Bryant, left, and Carnell Penn in the first half
Monday. The Spartans were winners in a blowout, 116-57.
by CNB