Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990 TAG: 9003102561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The Yellow Jackets played just six, getting scoring from five, and rallied to defeat the Wolfpack 76-67 at the Charlotte Coliseum.
Georgia Tech (22-6) advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1986 and will meet Duke (24-7) today at 3:30 p.m. The Blue Devils beat Maryland 104-84.
It was the sixth loss in the last seven games for the Wolfpack (18-12), who might have been playing their final game under beleaguered head coach Jim Valvano.
"Obviously it's been an emotional rollercoaster for us," said Valvano, whose future has been clouded by allegations of point shaving against former Wolfpack players.
"The last two weeks, we weren't the same team. I feel for the young men who toiled through a difficult season."
N.C State was without the services of sixth man Mickey Hinnant, suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules, and Valvano's bench consisted of two freshman and one-time manager Roland Whitley.
With Valvano shouting instructions on every possession, State led by as many as 12 points in the first half and went to the dressing room with a 40-30 lead.
After a basket by Rodney Monroe with 9:25 left, State led 51-48, but the Wolfpack missed their next seven shots from the field and 14 of their next 15.
Before Monroe ended the drought on a 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining, the Yellow Jackets had outscored State 23-6 behind nine points by Dennis Scott.
"It's one of the best comebacks we've made," Tech coach Bobby Cremins said. "People dwell on the fact we've lost three straight years, but we just feel too much pressure. Expectations are too high."
Scott finished with a game-high 23 points, although he was 7-of-16 from the field and made just one of seven 3-pointers. Brian Oliver added 22 points.
"I was a little tight and nervous," said Scott, who entered the tournament with an ACC-leading 27.6 points per game. "I didn't perform well the last two years and coach (Cremins) got on me at half."
Monroe led the Wolfpack with 20 points, but was only 7-of-22 from the field. Tom Gugliotta added 13 points, as did Chris Corchiani before he fouled out.
N.C. State shot 28.1 percent in the second half and 38.5 for the game, compared to Georgia Tech's 45.3.percent overall.
The Yellow Jackets outrebounded State 24-15 in the second half, although the Wolfpack had a 42-39 edge for the game.
Tech freshman Malcolm Mackey had 15 rebounds.
When the game ended, N.C. State had three players with four fouls and only two players on the bench to replace them. That didn't count Hinnant and four other players who are ineligible and being redshirted.
Valvano made no comment on his future after the game, saying only, "I'll be here Saturday and Sunday watching the games. I wish I was playing."
After Gugliotta banged in a 3-pointer for N.C. State's last points, Valvano called a timeout with 4.8 seconds remaining and the team circled its coach as the crowd filed out.
"I want to have a private moment with our players," said Valvano, whose team is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. "They've been such a special team.
N.C. STATE MP FG FT R A F PT
Howard 39 1-5 3-6 7 2 4 5; Gugliotta 31 5-11 0-0 10 3 4 13; D"Amico 34 4-10 0-0 9 0 2 8; Corchiani 38 6-12 0-0 4 6 5 13; Monroe 40 7-22 4-4 6 1 3 20; Feggins 9 2-5 2-2 4 0 4 6; Thompson 8 0-0 2-2 1 0 1 2; Whitley 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0; Totals 200 25-65 11-14 42 12 23 67
GA. TECH MP FG FT R A F PT
Scott 40 7-16 8-11 4 1 1 23; Mackey 23 2-5 0-1 15 0 3 4; McNeil 37 4-7 2-4 8 0 2 10; Anderson 37 6-18 4-7 5 5 4 17;Oliver 40 10-17 2-4 6 4 3 22; Brown 23 0-1 16-27 39 11 17 76; Totals 200 29-64 16-27 39 11 17 76
N.C. State 40 37-67
Georgia Tech 30 46-76
Three-point goals--N.C. State 6-20(Howard 0-1, Corchiana 1-3, Monroe 2-10); Georgia Tech 2-17(Scott 1-7, Anderson 1-7, Oliver 0-2, Brown 0-1).
Turnovers--N.C. State 13, Georgia Tech 10.
Technicals--none. Officials--Houseman, Herring, Gray. A--23530.
by CNB