Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 5, 1993 TAG: 9312050128
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Tech made nearly 60 percent of its field-goal attempts Saturday - one week after missing about two-thirds in its opener - but the statistic elbowing for attention in the Hokies' 88-54 rout of Coastal Carolina had everything to do with keeping the ball out of the basket.
Tech blocked a school-record 15 shots, one more than the Hokies repelled Dec. 28, 1985, against American University.
The Chanticleers found out redirected shots can cause mood swings. Coastal led 7-0 after three minutes, but it didn't last.
"They [the Hokies] really hustled," said Russ Bergman, the Chanticleers' coach. "Their rotation on defense was very, very good. [They] had some nice blocked shots that could've been two easy points for us."
Shawn Smith, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound sophomore whose hang time does not rival that of Michael Jordan, had a career-high four rejections, most when teammates were beaten on back-door cuts.
More often, though, Coastal (1-1) was hoisting longer shots. The 1993 Big South Conference champions, favored to repeat this season, attempted 18 3-pointers and made 29 percent from the field overall.
The Chanticleers' struggles were good entertainment for 4,181 spectators at Cassell Coliseum, where Tech is 31-2 in home openers. These Hokies thought this one was a bit special. Afterward, they gathered on the court to wave and gesture to the student section.
"This is our first home game, and the crowd is much better than last year's crowds," said Jim Jackson, who likely was referring to energy more than numbers.
It was the first-ever meeting for Tech and Coastal, which entered the game under a cloud. Coastal has been notified that an NCAA representative will be on campus early in the week to look into possible violations by the men's basketball program.
"They're coming `unofficially,' " said Bergman, adding that he knew nothing more as of Saturday, and did not know what constituted an "unofficial" visit.
Forward Mohammed Acha said he hadn't heard of the NCAA's plans, meaning the players may not have been told, but he did say the Chanticleers "weren't mentally tough" Saturday.
Tech, 2-0 for the first time under coach Bill Foster, didn't mind and made 58.3 percent of its field-goal attempts. That's the best the Hokies have shot since December 1991, when they hit 68.2 percent in a victory over Florida in Orlando. It's the third-highest mark in Foster's two-plus seasons at the school.
Foster sang the praises of his team's defense, but his players had their own lyrics.
"This team is really a team that really works well together for the good shots," Jackson said.
Coastal had few of those. Its two top players, 6-5 Acha and 6-1 KeKe Hicks, were a combined 13-for-39 from the field. Jackson and Acha pushed and shoved each other for most of the game; Jackson picked up four fouls but held Acha to 11 points.
The off-the-ball tangles involved more than just Jackson and Acha, and official Kyle Neve twice warned players about roughhouse tactics.
"I did let myself get kind of rattled," Jackson said of the foul calls.
Acha said he was getting and giving.
"He [Jackson] was trying to play me real tough, [so] that's what I was trying to do, too," he said.
Coastal could have helped itself with a sharper press. Tech had 15 turnovers - after committing 29 on Nov. 27 against West Virginia - and scored in bunches when it broke into the frontcourt.
Eight of the Hokies' first 10 field goals were layups or tip-ins, the latter including Corey Jackson's basket that put Tech ahead 22-17 with 9 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first half.
The inside buckets made the perimeter less crowded for guys like Jay Purcell, who was 7-for-11 from the field.
Smith benefited, too. With Tech ahead 25-20, Coastal broke the Hokies' press. But Phillip McLean's driving layup was returned by Smith, and the widebody then made an open 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:55 left.
Tech led by as many as 14 in the first half, but a 7-0 Coastal run to start the second half made it 41-36.
Smith popped up again, this time spin-dribbling past guard Joey Hart for a layup and a seven-point Hokies lead.
Acha missed a 3-point shot, but Purcell made one to put Tech up 46-36. Coastal came no closer than nine after that.
by CNB