Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112646
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BILOXI, MISS. LENGTH: Medium
Southern Mississippi's Russell Johnson and the scoreboard operator thought Johnson had tied the score with a 3-pointer with six seconds left in regulation. But the officials ruled that one of Johnson's feet was on the 3-point line, making the basket a 2-pointer.
The Golden Eagles' Darrin Chancellor, aware that Louisville still led by one although the scoreboard showed a tie score, fouled Cardinals guard Keith Williams with no time showing on the clock. Williams hit both free throws to give top-seeded Louisville an 83-80 victory and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"We were an inch away from overtime," said coach M.K. Turk, adding that he believes his Eagles deserve an at-large bid to the NCAAs. The 64-team field will be announced today.
The officials huddled at the scorer's table after Chancellor's foul, apparently debating whether he had fouled before the horn went off. But Dale Kelley, the Metro supervisor of officials, said there was no discussion about putting time back on the clock.
"There couldn't have been more than a split second between the whistle [for the foul] and the horn," Kelley told a pool reporter.
Turk didn't disagree.
"I'd like to say there were two or three seconds up there," Turk said. "[But] I think they called that right."
Louisville (26-7) shot 57.1 percent from the field, including 63 percent in the first half. The Cardinals' LaBradford Smith and Felton Spencer each made their first nine shots from the field.
The Golden Eagles (20-11) trailed by 13 with eight minutes left and by nine, 77-68, with 2:13 to go. But second-seeded Southern Miss outscored Louisville 10-2, the last four points coming on dunks by Clarence Weatherspoon, who set a tournament record with 49 rebounds in three games. The Golden Eagles got help from Smith, who missed the front end of two one-and-ones in that stretch. That rally made the score 79-78 with 25 seconds left.
Smith was fouled on the inbounds and, this time, hit two free throws with 14 seconds left, giving the Cardinals an 81-78 lead. That set up Johnson's jumper and Williams' final free throws.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (80)
Weatherspoon 8-14 3-7 19, Crowell 6-12 3-3 15, Jenkins 3-10 6-10 12, Johnson 6-11 1-3 13, Chancellor 6-12 5-6 17, Lacey 1-1 0-0 2, Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Rembert 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 31-66 18-29 80.\ LOUISVILLE (83)
Holden 1-5 4-6 6, Sullivan 1-6 0-0 2, Spencer 9-11 3-4 21, Williams 4-4 5-5 14, Smith 9-11 3-5 24, Kimbro 1-6 0-0 2, Harmon 7-13 0-0 14. Totals 32-56 15-20 83.
Halftime-39-31, Louisville. Three-point goals-S. Miss. 0-12 (Jenkins 0-1, Russell 0-4, Chancellor 0-3, Jones 0-1, Rembert 0-3), Louisville 4-5, (Williams 1-1, Smith 3-4). Fouled out-Chancellor, Harmon. Rebounds-S. Miss. 41 (Weatherspoon 16), Louisville 30 (Spencer 10). Assists-S. Miss. 11 (Johnson 4), Louisville 20 (Smith 9). Total fouls-S. Miss. 15, Louisville 21. A-10,257.
by CNB