THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702230027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: 91 lines
Jeff Jones said it wasn't the end of the world, this 66-60 loss to Wake Forest, but it well might have been the beginning of the end for Virginia's NCAA tournament hopes.
The Cavaliers (16-11, 6-9) came into Saturday's game against the nation's fourth-ranked team looking for an upset that would make them more attractive to the NCAA selection committee.
What they got was another dose of bitter disappointment.
``A lot was put into this game. To lose the way we did is discouraging,'' Jones said.
``It is not the end of the world, but if these last two games weren't must-win games before, they are now.''
Virginia closes the regular season against Virginia Tech on Tuesday and Maryland next Sunday.
``Our guys know to have a chance (at the NCAA tournament) we have to win those games,'' Jones said.
``It is as simple as that.''
The Cavaliers played with a sense of urgency Saturday, battling the Deacons toe-to-toe most of the way before letting the victory slip away in the final minutes.
Despite a grand performance by the Deacons' All-American Tim Duncan (21 points, 23 rebounds), the Cavaliers led 55-54 with 4:14 left.
``I thought we were all pumped up, all ready to play, but we didn't do it in the final minutes,'' senior guard Harold Deane said.
``That has been the story all season. We are not tough enough at the end to stop guys from getting to the basket.''
Virginia took only its second lead of the game, 55-54, with a seven-point run as Courtney Alexander threaded a 3-pointer, and Colin Ducharme and Curtis Staples each bagged a pair of free throws.
Wake Forest came back with a six-point spurt on back-to-back goals by Ricky Peral and one by Tim Duncan.
Alexander fired in another 3-pointer to cut Wake's lead to 2 but the Deacons went 6-for-6 at the line in the final 92 seconds to protect the win and end a slide of their own.
The Deacons had lost their last two ACC games and three of their last four to lose first place in the league standings to Duke.
``This is the time of year when a game like this means something to both teams,'' Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said.
``I don't think we played great basketball, but that was a darn sight better than the way we have been playing.''
Odom juggled his starting lineup by replacing senior Ricky Peral, who was scoreless in Wednesday's loss to North Carolina, with freshman Joseph Amonett.
Odom said he ``could see a need for a change'' after talking to Peral on Thursday.
Peral, off the bench, scored 9 points and had three rebounds in 24 minutes.
``I told Ricky after the game I was happy for him,'' Odom said. ``He replied that he was happy for the team.''
Odom admitted he was worried at intermission with the score tied at 31.
``They wore us down and I thought we were tired at the half. Then the second half was what you expect in a Virginia-Wake Forest game, a slugfest,'' he said.
The most physical action took place between Duncan and freshman Ducharme, who admitted he was at a disadvantage against the best player in college basketball.
``He (Duncan) is a great player, and a couple of times he had me beat before he even caught the ball,'' the 6-foot-9, 243-pound Ducharme said.
``He might not look like it, but he is a strong guy and he's great when he gets in position. That's why he is the best.''
Duncan complained a few times to the officials about the roughness, but he was complimentary to Ducharme afterward.
``He is a tough player and he played good defense,'' Duncan said.
While the Deacons had to struggle for the win, Duncan agreed with Odom that there was improvement.
``There was something there that had been missing in the last few games. We were doing the little things that turns games around,'' he said.
The Deacons go into the final week of the regular season one game behind Duke, but with the schedule on their side.
They play Georgia Tech and Florida State in their final games while Duke plays Maryland and North Carolina.
The loss assured Virginia of its second straight losing record in the league. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tim Duncan's 21 points and 23 rebounds helped Wake Forest hurdle
Virginia and leave Chase Metheny and the Cavaliers feeling low.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virginia's Harold Deane, right, chases down a loose ball with Wake's
Forest's Tony Rutland during Saturday's game at Charlottesville.