Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 6, 1992 TAG: 9202060136
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UVA ESCAPES TECH 61-57
Bryant Stith scored nine points in the second overtime, including a pair of 3-pointers, as Virginia defeated Virginia Tech 61-57 at the Roanoke Civic Center.It was the first two-overtime game in the 106-game history of the basketball series, and it provided the Cavaliers with their 15th victory in the past 18 games of the series.
Stith finished with a game-high 24 points for the Cavaliers (11-8), and center Ted Jeffries finished with a season-high 12 points, his only double-figure total of the season.
It gave Virginia its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Tech (7-11) got a 15-point effort from John Rivers, who had 12 points after halftime, including the basket that forced the first overtime.
Virginia had a shot to win the game in regulation, but Anthony Oliver's driving one-hander from the left baseline was blocked with four seconds remaining.
Tech had tied the score at 42 with 33 seconds left, when Rivers hit from the right baseline with two seconds remaining on the 45-second clock.
Virginia grabbed a 46-42 lead to start the overtime but couldn't hold it. The Hokies scored the next six points, taking the lead on two free throws by Erik Wilson with 56 seconds left.
The second overtime was set up when Stith hit two free throws for the Cavaliers with 26 seconds left. Jay Purcell's 25-footer hit the back rim for Tech with five seconds left in the first overtime.
A crowd of 8,396 was the smallest to attend one of the 10 games between the teams in Roanoke, although a brisk walk-up sale pushed the attendance over the expected 7,000-7,500.
Virginia had its lowest scoring half of the season but still found itself ahead 18-15 after 20 minutes of the half-court game that both coaches were said to oppose.
Much of Tech's offense came from the offensive rebounding, as the Hokies outrebounded the Cavaliers 23-12 for the half. Wilson had eight points, with two of his four field goals coming on follow shots.
Jeffries, averaging 4.3 points for the season, led the Cavaliers with seven first-half points as the Hokies neutralized Stith.
Stith had five points at halftime, with his only field goal coming on a 3-pointer, and the Cavaliers got a total of two first-half points from prize freshman Cory Alexander and Junior Burrough.
Alexander, coming off a season-high 22 points in UVa's 80-69 victory over North Carlolina State, picked up two fouls in the first 4 1/2 minutes and got No. 3 moments after his only field goal of the half.
Both teams started in man-to-man defenses but switched to 2-3 zones. Tech went to the zone after four minutes, and UVa made the move after a timeout with 11:46 remaining. Neither went back to man-to-man.
The Cavaliers hit seven of 21 field-goal attempts for 33.3 percent in the first half, while Tech was 7-of-24 (29.2 percent). The Hokies had eight turnovers, one reason they faced an early 11-5 deficit.
Virginia led 18-11 after a double-pump layup by Doug Smith with 1:19 left, but Tech scored twice in the final 43 seconds, the second time when Wilson rebounded Rivers' missed free throw with four seconds left.
The Hokies were 1-for-6 on free throws in the first half but had 10 offensive rebounds to the Cavaliers' one. Rivers, who was 1-for-5 on free throws, had 10 rebounds.
Virginia was without sophomore Cornel Parker, who left the team after the Cavaliers' 80-69 victory Saturday at North Carolina State.
Coach Jeff Jones reportedly persuaded Parker to rejoin the team, and he will return to practice later this week, although UVa does not play again until next Thursday, when it entertains Florida State.
The school cited personal problems for Parker's absence. He recently had moved into the starting lineup, although he had played 17 minutes in back-to-back victories over Maryland and State.
Sophomore Derrick Johnson started in Parker's place at shooting guard, but played only four minutes. Oliver and Smith, both reserves, represented UVa's backcourt for most of the first half.