THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602090639
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
In a season when much has gone wrong, Virginia happily discovered Thursday night its overtime magic was as reliable as ever.
The Cavaliers, who have not lost an overtime game in five years, won their third straight game in an 84-82 double overtime thriller against North Carolina State.
Harold Deane hit the winning shot from the top of the key with 1.2 seconds left in the second overtime.
Deane finished with 29 points, as Virginia evened its overall record at 10-10 and improved to 4-6 in the ACC. The three-game winning streak is the longest of the season for the Cavaliers.
N.C. State dropped to 13-9, 3-7.
Virginia has won 11th consecutive overtime games, and 14 straight on the road.
The last overtime loss for the Cavaliers at home was against Maryland on March 2, 1991, before any of the current players were in school.
``As soon as the game went into overtime, I knew we were going to win,'' sophomore guard Curtis Staples said.
``I told one of my teammates when the first overtime period began that we didn't lose in overtime.''
Staples assisted Deane in leading the Cavaliers back from a 59-51 deficit to send the game into the first five-minute overtime period.
He drained a pair of 3-pointers while Deane hit 7 of 8 free throws in a four-minute spurt to tie the score at 64 with 1:53 remaining.
The Wolfpack did not score a point in the final 4:08 of regulation.
Deane tried to win the game for the Cavaliers in the final 2.3 of regulation but failed on a drive to the basket.
Deane, who thought he was fouled on the play, admitted he was frustrated in the opening minutes of the first overtime.
Freshman Courtney Alexander scored Virginia's first five points in the session before Deane hit a layup and dished off to Norman Nolan inside for the goal that tied the score at 73.
State's C.C. Harrison missed a last-second layup attempt at the buzzer to put the game into another five-minute session.
Deane made a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer before hitting the winning shot on a fade-away jumper over State's Curtis Marshall.
Coach Jeff Jones said the winning play developed as it had been drawn.
``We didn't want Harold to penetrate deep enough in the lane that State's tall inside guys would come out to challenge him,'' Jones said.
Deane, three inches taller than the 5-foot-11 Marshall, said he got the shot he wanted.
``Coach told me I was going to get another chance to win it, and I was determined to do it,'' Deane said.
A few seconds earlier, Deane tried to psyche out State's 6-foot-11 center Todd Fuller, who was at the line for two free throws and Virginia leading, 82-81.
Deane jumped in Fuller's face and said, ``The game is in your hands. I want to see how you handle the pressure.''
After State coach Les Robinson loudly complained to officials about Deane's actions, Fuller missed the first throw and hit the second to tie the game at 82.
Deane then showed the Wolfpack how he handled pressure with his winning jump shot.
The defeat was State's sixth this season by a margin of six or fewer points and further weakened its hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament.
``It is another tough loss,'' said Robinson, ``but we have to give credit to the Virginia guards for making some very good plays and some great shots.
``They've had some tough nights this season, but they just keep shooting, and they can still hit the big shots.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
N.C. State's Jeremy Hyatt blocks Harold Deane's shot in the first
half. Deane later hit the game-winner with 1.2 seconds left in the
second overtime as U.Va. won its 11th consecutive OT game.
by CNB