Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995                   TAG: 9511170035
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NO. 5 GEORGETOWN'S PRESS FLATTENS COLGATE IN NIT

Victor Page scored 18 points in his collegiate debut and center Othella Harrington led fifth-ranked Georgetown with 23 as the Hoyas hammered Colgate 106-57 on Thursday night in Landover, Md., in the first round of the Preseason NIT.

Boasting a host of speedy guards, Georgetown coach John Thompson unveiled a much-anticipated up-tempo game. There were several kinks - turnovers and blown defensive assignments - early against the Red Raiders. Colgate had little trouble with the full-court press and led by as many as nine before a series of plays around the 10-minute mark turned around the game.

``I told them we need to stop making highlight films and start making sensible plays,'' said Thompson, whose team committed 22 turnovers. ``We've got a lot of athletic people who can do colorful things, but you're not going to win tough ball games being pretty.''

After a Georgetown basket, Iverson stole the ball in the backcourt and hit a layup to pull the Hoyas to 21-20 with 9:58 to go in the half. The Red Raiders then had to use a timeout when they couldn't get the ball inbounds, had trouble getting off a shot, and Harrington came back the other way with a layup to give Georgetown a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Georgetown will play Temple in the second round Saturday at USAir Arena.

In other games:

Temple 65, Rider 62: Marc Jackson scored 17 points and the Owls overcame a 34-point performance by the Broncs' Charles Smith to open their season with a victory in a Preseason NIT game in Philadelphia.

Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored Rider's first 22 points and had 24 at the half as Temple led 31-26.

The Owls held a 51-38 lead with nine minutes remaining, but Rider went on a 20-7 run. Smith scored the final six points to make it 58-58 at the 4:13 mark.

Jackson's layup gave Temple a 64-60 lead with 1:58 to play.

Virginia 84, Court Authority 68: The Cavaliers scored the first 10 points of the second half to take a 43-34 lead and went on to a victory in an exhibition game in Charlottesville.

Freshmen Scott Johnson (six) and Courtney Alexander (four) provided the offense during the decisive run. Alexander finished with 16 points and Johnson added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Harold Deane led Virginia with 20 points and 11 assists, and Curtis Staples scored 14 points. Redshirt freshman center Chase Metheney grabbed 11 rebounds.

Eric English led Court Authority with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

VMI 135, Kentucky Crusaders 77: Lawrence Gullette had 18 points to lead a parade of double-figure scorers as the Keydets crushed the visitors in an exhibition game in Lexington.

Jason Bell scored 17, Maurice Spencer 16, Andre Quarles and Brent Conley 15, Lester Johnson 12 and Bryan Taueg 11 for VMI. The Keydets held a 59-31 advantage on the boards and forced 26 turnovers.

Dexter Bailey led the Kentucky Crusaders with 21 points.