Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991 TAG: 9102030142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MORGANTOWN, W.VA. LENGTH: Long
"It did get our attention," WVU coach Gale Catlett said of his team, which had lost two straight.
So, the perky Mountaineers walloped Tech 94-68 before 9,123 at the WVU Coliseum, handing the Hokies (8-10) their seventh loss in eight games.
Tech was rattled by referees for at least the second time this year. In an 88-70 loss at George Washington, the Hokies wailed about the officiating. In that game, Tech committed 27 fouls to George Washington's 21 and the Colonials shot 37 free throws to the Hokies' 25.
Same story, only more so, Saturday. WVU (11-8) set a Coliseum record with 56 free-throw attempts and tied an arena record with 35 made. Tech shot 25 free throws and was called for 37 fouls to the Mountaineers' 19. West Virginia won for the 22nd time in 23 home games.
"There were a lot of calls they were getting that we weren't getting," said Rod Wheeler, who came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points.
WVU's physical play bothered the finesse-oriented Hokies, who shot 32.4 percent (24-of-74) from the field and 29.4 percent in the first half, when they fell behind 43-29.
Two of Tech's main offensive threats, John Rivers and Antony Moses, combined for 14 points; Rivers was 2-for-9 from the field. Center Erik Wilson, formerly a double-figure scorer, took two shots and had two points. Freshman Corey Jackson, counted on to score, was 1-of-6 from the field.
"We were out there in a rhythm," Jackson said, "but it's difficult when you're getting banged and not getting any calls."
Tech coach Frankie Allen could only wish for more age - for his players, that is.
"Sometimes with a young team that can happen," he said of the Hokies' frustration. "You try to tell your kids to play through calls."
They didn't.
"Sometimes when you don't get calls your way, you get out of it mentally," Moses said. "That was our letdown today."
WVU played through periods of sloppiness and poor shooting, especially at the free-throw line. Led by Chris Brooks' horrid 2-of-10 mark, the Mountaineers missed 21 free throws. WVU also missed several fast-break layups in the first half.
"If we'd have made our free throws and shot layups in the first half, we'd have been ahead by 25," Catlett said.
The margin was 14, but it was enough. Tech trailed by that sum with 8:42 to go, but scored five straight points to make it 65-56 with 7:53 left.
Then Mike Boyd, who cut up the Hokies for 27 points on 9-of-12 field-goal shooting, scored WVU's next five points, two on a back-door layup, to put the margin back at 14.
Dirk Williams' dunk and Wheeler's 3-pointer made it 70-61 with 5:21 to go, but that was it for Tech. WVU scored five straight points and kept expanding the lead.
Allen said West Virginia attacked Tech's press effectively in the first half and forced the Hokies to make changes. But by then, the Hokies already were in a hole.
Tech's 28 turnovers certainly didn't help.
"There were a lot of careless things on our part," Allen said.
WVU wasn't flawless with 19 turnovers, but its offense got a big lift from forward Charles Becton, who came off the bench to score 19 points, including 11-of-11 free-throw shooting. Catlett said it was the senior's best game of the season.
No Hokie could claim the same only three days after perhaps the team's best game of the season, against Louisville. Saturday's performance led some Hokies to obvious conclusions.
"We need to make more of our shots," Moses said of a team shooting around 41 percent from the field. "Some nights, we're hitting and we play real good and beat teams."
Not Saturday, although Allen's thoughts were still on Wednesday's win and a guard combination that clicked for a time against WVU: Wheeler and freshman Jay Purcell on court together.
"That showed me we've still got some things we can accomplish with this team," Allen said.
VA. TECH MPFGFTRAFPT Moses 234-120-14048Rivers 322-92-411056Wilson 201-20-06032Purcell 302-133-44457Jackson 191-60-05132Wheeler 216-93-421420Williams 205-103-410513Elliott 162-41-25045Corker 71-52-44214Carruth 60-10-01030Burton 40-30-01000Herbster 20-01-20001Totals 20024-7415-255283768 WEST VA. MPFGFTRAFPT Brooks 323-92-107018Greene 255-91-470211Bodkin 172-64-55158Leonard 220-73-45103Boyd 349-129-1154327Becton 224-611-1151319Pollard 193-61-53228Basey 131-32-24214Wilson 100-22-21012Roadcap 40-00-21010McNeely 11-10-00002Jackson 11-20-00002Totals 20029-6335-5648111994 Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Virginia Tech 29-39-68 West Virginia 43-51-94
Three-point goals - Virginia Tech: Purcell 0-3, Jackson 0-2, Wheeler 5-7, Williams 0-2, Corker 0-1, Burton 0-1, Totals 5-16. West Virginia: Greene 0-1, Leonard 0-5, Becton 0-1, Pollard 1-3, Totals 1-10.
Turnovers - Virginia Tech 28 (Wheeler, Williams, Moses 5); West Virginia 19 (Greene 6). Blocked shots - Virginia Tech 5 (Wilson 2); West Virginia 6 (Greene, Roadcap 2). Steals - Virginia Tech 11 (five with 2); West Virginia 17 (Boyd 4).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Foxcroft, Bova, DeMayo. Attendance - 9,123.
by CNB