THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602010442
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Big lead. Big collapse. Big win.
All applied Wednesday for Old Dominion, which almost squandered a 17-point lead but held on to beat UNC-Wilmington 51-50 at Scope.
It was the fewest points by the Monarchs in 119 games, dating to another 51-point outburst in a loss to Penn State during the 1991-92 season. The last time ODU scored fewer points at home was a 47-43 win over South Florida in 1985-86.
As aesthetically displeasing as the game often was, ODU coach Jeff Capel found solace in his team's ability to withstand the Seahawks' charge. Capel said the Monarchs (12-9 overall, 7-2 Colonial Athletic Association) - winners of seven of their last eight - may not have been able win under similar circumstances a few weeks ago.
``When people make runs at us, we don't cringe anymore,'' Capel said. ``I can look at our players' faces and see that they're still confident, they still think they can seize control of the game at some point.''
Certainly not when they led 43-26 with 13 1/2 minutes to play. But the outcome was in doubt when UNC-Wilmington's Stan Simmons hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to make it a 48-47 ODU edge.
During the 13 minutes when the lead almost evaporated, the Monarchs made 2 of 9 shots, 1 of 6 free throws - including misses on the front end of two one-and-ones - and turned the ball over five times in 18 possessions.
``When we played UNC-Wilmington down there, we went up 13 or 14 and they gave us the game, just gave up,'' ODU guard Duffy Samuels said. ``I think that's what our team thought they'd do here once they fell behind, just give up. But they came back fighting like cats and dogs. I guess we relaxed too much.''
The Seahawks had played like dogs the first 26 minutes of the game as ODU played stingy defense. They shot 37 percent in the first half - neither team made a field goal in the final five minutes of the half - then missed their first nine shots of the second period as ODU's six-point lead at intermission stretched to 17. UNC-W's Preston McGriff finally made a hoop to break a drought spanning the two halves that lasted 11:59.
The game changed when ODU center Odell Hodge had to sit down with four fouls at the 10:34 mark. The 6-foot-11 McGriff took advantage, scoring nine of his game-high 19 points in six minutes.
``Once Odell got in foul trouble, we were at his mercy,'' Capel said of McGriff. ``He's a monster to match up to.''
UNC-W also threw the Monarchs off with a switch to zone defense.
``They lost a little momentum because of that and got a little tentative,'' Seahawks coach Jerry Wainwright said.
Following the 3-pointer that drew UNC-W to within one, ODU's Mark Poag (11 points) made two free throws with 22.6 seconds left for a 50-47 edge. The Seahawks (7-12, 5-4) had a chance to tie on Billy Donlon's open 3-pointer, but he missed and ODU rebounded. Guard Brion Dunlap, fouled with 2.5 seconds left, made 1 of 2 for a four-point lead. A Seahawk 3-pointer at the buzzer provided the final margin. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
UNC-Wilmington's Mark Byington, left, and Mike Byers of ODU scramble
for the ball.
by CNB