THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702071030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOUG DOUGHTY, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 74 lines
After playing four basketball games in a row at home and winning all of them, Virginia may have been lulled into a false sense of security.
The Cavaliers should have known that little comes easy at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, where Georgia Tech defeated U.Va. for the sixth time in seven games, 66-53.
``We had three days to prepare and I thought we prepared well, quite honestly,'' coach Jeff Jones said. ``But this was not the same team we've been seeing. We're not good enough just to show up.''
And, there were times Thursday night when the Cavaliers didn't do that. Senior center Eddie Elisma tied a career high with 23 points, including 20 in the second half, and 12 rebounds.
``It was really disconcerting the way they kept shooting, getting their misses and shooting again,'' Jones said. ``After the first game, we knew that was an issue and we didn't respond. Elisma was very, very active.''
Elisma had 10 points during a 2 1/2-minute stretch in the second half, including back-to-back three-point plays after he was fouled by Virginia's 7-foot-4 Chase Metheney. The Cavaliers, down by as many as eight points in the first half, had forced a 35-35 tie with 15:37 left.
``If Virginia had ever taken the lead, I'm not sure we would have had the confidence to fight back,'' said Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, whose Yellow Jackets had lost six of seven, including a 68-64 setback in Charlottesville.
``This team has been bruised. We've been heavily bruised. We've played a ridiculous schedule. We must have played 10 teams in the top 10. But, let's be honest, Virginia's a little banged up.''
Virginia point guard Harold Deane limped throughout the second half and left the game for good with 4:20 left, after scoring seven points. Junior forward Norman Nolan, with 20 points, was the only Virginia player in double figures.
Georgia Tech (9-11, 3-7) had three players in double figures, a group that did not include Matt Harpring, who had scored 29 points in the teams' first meeting. Harpring finished with eight, his first single-digit scoring effort in the last 11.
Although Virginia was able to shut down Harpring in the first half, junior forward Michael Maddox stepped up and scored 11 points as the Yellow Jackets took a 31-27 halftime lead.
The Cavaliers had cut an eight-point deficit to 24-23 when Maddox went after Virginia freshman Craig McAndrew, who had just entered the game. Maddox hit a pair of free throws, then made a 3-pointer to fuel a 7-0 Tech run.
Virginia gained a measure of momentum before the half on field goals by Deane and Curtis Staples. It was the first basket for Deane and the second for Staples as Georgia Tech gave little ground on the perimeter.
The Cavaliers trailed 9-2 to start the game and it was 13-8 before Jones inserted leading scorer Courtney Alexander, who had suffered a sprained left ankle exactly two weeks earlier.
Alexander failed to score in an eight-minute stint Saturday against Florida State and was no more effective in the first half Thursday. He missed a shot shortly after entering the game and did not have another attempt in the half.
Alexander was pulled with 11:37 in the second half after his lazy inbounds pass was intercepted by the Yellow Jackets following a timeout. He was replaced by Jamal Robinson on the next dead ball and did not return.
``He's (Alexander) not 100 percent,'' Jones said, ``He practiced hard for three days, but while physically he may be ready, he's not ready (to be a factor) at this point.
``In recent games, I thought we had seen the chemistry developing and we've had good balance. That was good for our basketball team. Tonight, we could have used somebody - anybody - to step up.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color AP photo
Virginia guard Jamal Robinson, dishing off a pass against a tight
Georgia Tech defense, replaced a gimpy Courtney Alexander, who was
still bothered by a sprained left ankle.