Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412240049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
\ In its search for positive reinforcement prior to the start of conference play, Virginia had another negative experience Thursday night.
The Cavaliers, the favorites in each of their first nine games, lost for the second time at home and third time overall to an unheralded but unbeaten Stanford team.
The Cardinal had four field goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half, but did something 22nd-ranked Virginia couldn't do - make free throws - in a 64-60 triumph at University Hall.
``Needless to say, it's a nice Christmas present,'' Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. ``We did an excellent job of hanging in there and giving ourselves a chance to win. Neither team was scoring at will.''
The Cardinal (7-0) shot only 35.3 percent from the field, but converted 25 of 31 free throws, including 12 in a row down the stretch. Virginia, on the other hand, was abysmal at the line.
The Cavaliers, hitting 74.8 percent on free throws before Thursday night, went six-of-15 in the second half and had another miss nullified by a lane violation. Added to 36.7-percent shooting from the field, that was a killer.
``From our perspective, it was a game of missed opportunities,'' UVa coach Jeff Jones said. ``Not just the free throws, which were critical, but our shot selection after we took a 49-43 lead.''
Seemingly, everything was going Virginia's way when freshman Curtis Staples launched a 25-footer that just beat the 24-second clock and gave the Cavaliers a six-point lead with 7:43 remaining.
Moreover, Stanford guard Brevin Knight had to be helped to his feet after a collision with UVa guard Cory Alexander on the play. Backcourt mate Dion Cross was having problems of his own, so Montgomery couldn't be optimistic.
Knight eventually got back on the floor and it was his 3-pointer that gave the Cardinal the lead for good, 54-52, with 3:40 remaining. It wasn't the biggest shot of the game, however.
After a Harold Deane 3-pointer had pulled Virginia to 58-57 with 1:21 left, the Cardinal cleared out for Knight, who blew past Cory Alexander for a layup that made it 60-57.
``Virginia faked a switch and Brevin went the other way,'' Montgomery said. ``It was a very intelligent decision and for him to save it for that time was very opportune.''
Knight, who sat out portions of the first half with stomach problems, finished with a game-high 20 points. Deane led three UVa players in double figures with 15.
Staples had eight points in 14 minutes, including a jumper with 4.9 seconds left that cut the deficit to 63-60. Jones thought it was a 3-pointer, but official Dick Paparo said Staples was on the line.
``Somehow or another we've got to find a way to get Curtis more minutes,'' Jones said. ``We've got to give him a speed-up course defensively because we need to get his offense in the game.''
The game followed a familiar pattern for Staples, who seems uncomfortable and hurried when he first comes in a game but has been on the floor for each of UVa's futile comeback attempts.
``Once I hit that first shot, I feel I'm in the flow,'' Staples said, ``but I feel I have to be out there for a while. I'm glad to hear what coach Jones said because it's something I've been feeling.''
Staples, after one month of college ball, said it isn't hard to tell that the Cavaliers are pressing.
``We thought we would be undefeated,'' he said. ``We haven't beaten a quality team yet. I'm sure people have a lot of questions about us and we've got some questions ourselves.
``If we're losing to these teams now and we're not even into the ACC, we wonder if we can beat Maryland, can we beat North Carolina? Can we beat the better teams in the ACC.''
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB