THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 4, 1996 TAG: 9604040495
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Norfolk State's Derrick Bryant joined with the two biggest guns in the Southwestern Athletic Conference to lead defending champion Beach/Barton Ford to a 94-88 victory over the Portsmouth Sports Club in the opening game of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament on Wednesday night.
Bryant, rooted on by the entire Norfolk State team among the 3,500 spectators at Churchland High School for the 44th annual PIT, triggered the victory with 22 points.
Texas Southern's Kevin Granger, the nation's leading scorer, chipped in 15 points and 6-8 Marcus Mann of Mississippi Valley State hauled down 19 rebounds.
In the second game Dolsey Ltd., sparked by Reggie Townsend of St. Joseph's, defeated WTKR, 90-85.
Bryant, a 6-4 All-CIAA guard, made only 5 of 13 shots from the field but connected on 12 free throws without a miss. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
Granger, a 28-point average scorer in the past collegiate season, said he wanted to show his all-around talent to the onlooking NBA scouts. ``I think everybody knows I can score,'' he said. ``But I've played against some guys that have gone on into the pros and I think my stats matched up with them. I can play at that level.''
Granger attempted only nine shots, hitting on five. He did not even try a 3-pointer. He had three assists, one steal and was guilty of three turnovers. He also shadowed Nebraska's Erick Strickland, the most valuable player in the recent NIT, and limited him to five points.
Mann, who scored 12 points, had 14 rebounds in the first half and seemed headed toward a new PIT record. The game record is 24, set by Tennessee State's Monte Davis, the MVP in the 1980 tournament.
The Sports Club was led by George Washington's Kwame Evans with 20 points. Pittsburgh's Jerry McCullough added 19. McCullough was notified at 10 a.m. that he was replacing no-show Danny Hurley of Seton Hall and was on a plane to Norfolk one hour later.
In the nightcap it was another late substitute who stood out. Townsend was chosen to replace Malik Rose when the Drexel star sustained a leg injury and could not play.
The 6-7 Townsend made 7 of 13 shots from the floor and was 3 of 3 at the foul line. He had five points in the stretch as Dolsey held off the TV team.
Five of the eight Dolsey players hit double figures. Davidson's Quinn Harwood had 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MARK MITCHELL/The Virginian-Pilot
Jerry McCullough of the Portsmouth Sports Club team drives past a
Beach Barton Ford defender in a Wednesday night Portsmouth
Invitational Tournament game. Beach Ford won the game, 94-88.
by CNB