THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Jeff McInnis led North Carolina to a fiery 84-78 victory over ACC rival Duke on Sunday, but he wasn't allowed to stay for the postgame celebration in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
McInnis, ejected from the game with his second technical foul with 26 seconds remaining, was hustled off the court by UNC assistant coach Bill Guthridge four seconds before the final buzzer.
McInnis had exchanged taunts with Duke fans and players through most of the game.
He described his early exit as a precaution.
``Coach didn't want anything happening with the crowd,'' the junior guard from Charlotte explained.
McInnis scored 25 points, tying his career high, and sophomore reserve guard Shammond Williams added a career-high 26 points to lift 19th-ranked North Carolina (20-9, 10-6) to its seventh straight victory over the Blue Devils (18-11, 8-8).
Duke, which had a four-game winning streak snapped, would have tied UNC for third place in the ACC by winning.
The Blue Devils may have lost more than the game, too.
Senior Chris Collins injured his right ankle in the second half and may be not be available for this week's ACC tournament.
``We'll have to wait and see how bad it is. But I don't think it is just a sprain, as I had hoped,'' Collins said as he limped out of the Duke dressing room.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, used the victory to end a two-game losing streak and to ensure a 26th consecutive 20-win season under coach Dean Smith.
``All of that was important,'' McInnis said. ``We needed to win to get ready for the postseason. Some people said we were in a slump, and we were.
``Our own student newspaper picked Duke to win by 14 points.''
After a pause, McInnis added, ``I haven't ever lost to Duke, and I didn't plan on starting today.''
McInnis was called for his first technical after gesturing and trash-talking following a goal early in the second half.
``I just said, `We're not going anywhere,' '' contended McInnis, who left the floor at the end of the first half waving his arms to the crowd after hitting a 3-pointer.
McInnis said he gave officials no cause to call the second technical.
He was pushed into the courtside press table by Duke's Jay Heaps and a second later was whistled for the technical.
``I didn't do anything, I didn't say anything,'' McInnis said. ``That is why I was so upset on the sidelines.''
McInnis refused orders from the coaching staff to be seated and angrily stalked back and forth on the sidelines before Guthrie escorted him off the court.
Smith said he was not told why McInnis was whistled for a second technical foul. ``I saw the first one, and Collins had said something to Jeff after scoring on him previously,'' Smith said.
``The second technical kinda bothers me. It could have been disastrous. I'm not enjoying the win as much because of it. I am disappointed we would have a technical in that situation.''
Duke led only once early, but closed to within two points a couple of times in the second half before McInnis and Williams ignited UNC rallies.
Half of Willliams' eight goals were 3-pointers, and McInnis was 2 for 3 from behind the arc.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski also credited UNC center Serge Zwikker with getting the Tar Heels off to ``a great start'' in hostile Cameron.
Zwikker scored 10 of UNC's first 15 points while McInnis and Williams were warming up.
Collins, playing his final game in Cameron, scored 18 points in 25 minutes before leaving because of the injury.
Jeff Capel was high for the Blue Devils with 20, but he made only 1 of 8t 3-point attempts.
Both UNC and Duke will have to wait for the results of tonight's game between Maryland and Florida State before knowing their first-round opponents in the tournament.
If Maryland wins, UNC will play Clemson on Friday and Duke will play Maryland.
If Florida State wins, UNC will play Maryland and Duke will play Clemson. by CNB