THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701190224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 66 lines
Leading scorer and rebounder Rodney Carmichael's fourth foul with 10:10 left in Saturday night's game against Elizabeth City State hurt Norfolk State in more than one way.
Maurice Mincey scored eight points during Carmichael's absence, including four during an 11-0 run to break a tie at 56, as the Vikings defeated NSU 73-64 before a crowd of 6,976 at Echols Arena. The Vikings (8-3, 5-1 CIAA) broke a five-game losing streak to the Spartans (8-5, 3-2) and maintained sole-possession of second place in the Northern Division.
``In that stretch, we broke down defensively,'' NSU coach Mike Bernard said of the decisive ECSU spurt. ``We got no offensive leadership. We broke down. They just out-hustled us.''
And they could not stop Mincey.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound senior had game-highs of 28 points, five steals and also snatched a team-high 12 rebounds.
``We were bigger inside,'' said ECSU coach Barry Hamler, a Virginia Beach resident and a former Booker T. Washington High coach. ``Offensively, our philosophy all season has been (to) get the ball inside.''
Mincey began the run with a layup with 4:36 to break the tie.
On NSU's next possession, Mincey got the rebound. The possession eventually led to a five-point lead following a 3-pointer by Tallwood High grad Ryan Taylor.
``I thought we picked up the tempo when we went to our man-to-man, full-court press,'' Hamler said.
Meanwhile, even after Carmichael returned, the Spartans couldn't find any offensive rhythm. The Spartans went nearly four minutes without scoring after Tajai Young tied the score at 56 with two free throws with 4:46.
``We never executed,'' Bernard said. ``Their halfcourt pressure took us away from our offense.''
Not only did NSU miss Carmichael during his stint on the bench, but freshman forward Michael Beckles' absence from the lineup didn't help matters.
Beckles will miss the remainder of the season after breaking a bone in his foot during Thursday's victory over Virginia Union. Beckles, who missed major portions of the St. Paul's and Livingstone games with blurred vision after he was poked in the eye, limped to the bench with under three minutes left on Thursday and never returned.
Fellow freshman Tajai Young stepped up, scoring 16 points to go along with Carmichael's 21 points and 16 rebounds.
But there was no answer for Mincey.
``Maurice Mincey was an All-CIAA type,'' Hamler said. ``That was the best he has played while he's been at Elizabeth City State.''
Mincey hurt the Spartans with nine baskets from inside the paint and four free throws.
In contrast, the outside game that was a factor Thursday for NSU against Virginia Union, was obsolete.
Carmichael and Dion Woods hit consecutive 3-pointers, Woods' coming with 10:48 left in the game, for a 48-43 lead. But the Spartans would not hit another jumper from behind the arc until Hamler was on his way to his first victory in three tries against the Spartans. ILLUSTRATION: Norfolk State's Tajai Young defends ECSU's Adrian
Bell. Young had 16 points for the Spartans.
LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk State's Dion Woods grabs for the loose ball with one hand,
and keeps Elizabeth City State's Walter Wright at a distance with
the other during Saturday night's loss to the Vikings.