Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 8, 1992 TAG: 9203080213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARYVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
Saturday night at Maryville College, the Panthers wanted to perpetuate it. However, Maryville didn't adhere to theory.
The Fighting Scots jumped to a huge early lead, then held off Ferrum down the stretch to beat the Panthers for the third time with a 94-92 victory at Boydson Baird Gymnasium.
The Scots (24-3) next play the winner of the game between Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst. Ferrum finished its best Division III season with a 22-7 record.
Maryville used a 13-0 run in the first half to gain an edge and, although Ferrum came close several times, the Scots never surrendered the lead.
"I tried everything I could to tell them we couldn't get behind this team," Ferrum coach Bill Pullen said. "They are too good and well-rested. The game was going exactly the way we wanted. Then we relaxed on defense and, when you relax against the No. 6 team in the nation, they're going to take advantage of it."
Leading 28-27 with 8:51 left in the first half, Maryville scored 13 straight points to go up 41-27 with 5:36 left.
The Scots led by 17 before taking a 53-38 cushion into the half.
Behind the scoring of senior swingman Everett Foxx and freshman point guard Quincy Quick, who scored 18 points, Ferrum clawed back throughout the second half.
But each time the Panthers got close, Maryville made a big play to extend the margin.
The Scots closed out the victory by making seven of eight free throws in the final 1:42.
Foxx, an All-American from Caroline, closed out his Ferrum career by scoring 42 points, 23 in the second half.
"For me, this is the emptiest feeling in the world," he said.
Fittingly, Foxx finished by doing the thing he has done his entire career at Ferrum - whatever it took to help the Panthers.
Foxx fouled out with 35 seconds remaining when Ferrum trailed 91-87 and it was more important to stop the clock than save himself for another shot.
"I don't how you can ask anymore from a player than what Everett Foxx gave us," Pullen said. "The only reason he fouled out was because he knew we needed to stop the clock. A lot of players wouldn't have done that."
After Foxx made a 3-pointer to pull Ferrum to 28-27 in the first half, the Panthers missed a chance to take the lead by making a turnover.
Tim Lawrence made a 3-pointer for Maryville. Foxx missed. Lawrence made a jumper in the lane. Foxx missed.
Kelvin Richardson made a 12-footer to put Maryville up 35-27. Mike Robertson's attempt was blocked for Ferrum, and Maryville's Babatu Willingham curled in a layup to force Ferrum into a timeout.
The Panthers failed to score again and Kenyon Lacey made a layup. Another Ferrum turnover led to a layup by Richardson.
Ferrum trailed 41-27 before Foxx made a free throw to end the run.
The Scots turned the ball over and Foxx converted it into a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 41-31.
The Panthers had a chance to cut the lead under double figures when Foxx blocked a shot attempt by Richardson, but Kevin Keats traveled while trying to push the ball up court.
Richardson made an 18-footer, Chip Bailey converted a three-point play and Lacy scored a layup as the Scots went up 48-31 with 3:08 to play in the first half.
Foxx led Ferrum with 19 first-half points, but the Panthers shot 29 percent (9-of-33), committed 10 turnovers and were outrebounded 29-21. Ferrum made 15 of 17 free throws to stay within shouting distance.
Maryville was 21-of-41 from the floor, including 4-of-8 on 3-point attempts. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB