THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010598
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
It didn't come as easily as they would have liked, but the Norfolk State Spartans nonetheless survived their first test of the CIAA Tournament Thursday at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
Playing sporadically for most of the afternoon and without star forward Derrick Bryant much of the second half, the Spartans got by Virginia State 85-69 to move into tonight's semifinals.
The Spartans (21-4) will meet North Carolina Central, an 86-73 winner over St. Paul's, tonight at 7 p.m.
After racing to a 20-7 lead in the first eight minutes, Norfolk State victimized itself with poor shot selection, allowing the Trojans (10-17) to make a game of it.
``The knockout punch was there, but they didn't give it to us,'' Virginia State coach Tyrone Hart said.
``We missed about five layups opportunities because we were out of control,'' said Spartans coach Mike Bernard. ``Our shot selection was not what we wanted it to be. But those were correctable errors.''
It became more than just a game when Bryant went to the bench with his fourth foul in the opening minute of the second half, although there was some debate as to whether Bryant had fouled Virginia State's Douglas Hines as Hines went up for a jumper.
``I thought it was a clean strip,'' said Bryant, who'd picked up his second and third fouls in the final minute of the first half. ``I think everybody from Norfolk thought it was clean.''
``I'm from Massachusetts and I thought it was clean,'' said Bernard, who has grown accustomed to having Bryant in for all 40 minutes.
``When Bryant picked up the fourth foul, I thought it was a golden gate to opportunity,'' Hart said.
Instead the Spartans rallied and the Trojans wilted. After Hines' free throws cut the Spartans' margin advantage to 39-35 with 19:09 remaining, Norfolk State went on a 15-2 run.
Carlton Cooper came off the bench and started Norfolk State's run with a 3-pointer, then added a stickback basket near the end of the run.
``I don't ever think I can sit Derrick down at all,'' Bernard said. ``But we did a good job offensively out there without him.
``We were going to play some zone defense in the second half to protect Derrick. But when he picked up the fourth, we didn't have anyone out there who was in foul trouble. It actually allowed us to do more things and we got some turnovers.''
Leerico Leach's gliding layup with 12:20 left was the Trojans' first field goal of the second half and spelled an end to Norfolk State's run.
But by then the cushion was in place.
The Trojans seemed to have one last legitimate opportunity to get back into it when Hines, who had a team-high 23 points, converted a 3-point play with 5:44 remaining to cut the lead to 69-60.
But Bryant, who re-entered with 7:27 remaining, canned a 16-foot jumper from the corner, then a minute later blocked a Reggie Frisby jumper at one end and finished the break at the other. When Carnell Penn scored his last points of a game-high 25 with a pullup jumper, the Spartans led 75-62 with under two minutes to go.
Bryant was held to a season-low nine points, but provided 10 rebounds. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Blitz Wooten of Norfolk State, left, passes around Reggie Frisby of
Virginia State. Wooten had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Carnell Penn, left, who led Norfolk State with 25 points, is fouled
by Virginia State's Marcus Taylor.
by CNB