ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Virginia Tech has quickly discovered that life as one of college basketball's hunted is a bit more difficult than being the hunter.
Only two days after being gunned down by then-unranked Georgia, the 22nd-ranked Hokies were forced to dodge another potential ambush Monday night in front of 7,527 spectators at Cassell Coliseum.
Rediscovering how to play defense again, Tech held West Virginia to 6-of-29 shooting in the second half and held on to beat the Mountaineers 68-62.
Tech (4-1) found its tough matchup-man defense, perhaps the most critical element of last season's surprising 25-10 team, just in time to put the clamps on WVU (3-3).
The Mountaineers, getting great dribble penetration from their guards to set up easy shots, had conducted a veritable layup drill in the first half, hitting 17 of 27 shots (63 percent) to take a 36-33 halftime lead.
"Defense won us this game,'' said Bill Foster, Tech coach. "In the second half we played defense like we were accustomed to seeing last year - smothering the ball, not giving up dribble penetration and keeping teams in that 25 to 40 percent defensive field-goal percent range.''
Tech forward Shawn Smith, whose free-throwing shooting down the stretch kept WVU at arm's length, said the Tech coaches lit into the Hokies at halftime.
"They really got on us,'' Smith said. "Coming off the Georgia game, then to see West Virginia put up those kind of shooting numbers ... they told us to go out there and do what got us here last year.''
Forwards Damian Owens and Gordon Malone, who combined to hit 10 of 12 first-half shots for 20 first-half points, were missing in action in the final 20 minutes, hitting one of four shots collectively for six points. WVU's three guards were a combined 8-of-30 from the field.
Still, the 8-point-underdog Mountaineers had a chance in the final minute. After Roanoker Troy Manns missed two free throws with 45.9 seconds left, leaving Tech up 65-61, WVU's Cyrus Jones blew a wide-open layup. WVU's Greg Simpson missed wildly on the rebound, but Smith fouled Simpson going for the ball and Simpson made one free throw to make it a three-point game.
Ace Custis, whose 20 points led Tech, hit a pair of free throws with 19.7 seconds left to put Tech up five. When Seldon Jefferson, one of WVU's misfiring guards, was errant on a 3-pointer on the Mountaineers' next trip down the floor, the Hokies were home free.
"This sure is going to make Christmas a lot better,'' said Custis, who pulled down a game-tying high nine rebounds.
Smith, Tech's only other double-figure scorer with 17 points, said the Hokies are having a little trouble getting used to being the hunted.
"Having so much expectations is giving me butterflies,'' Smith said. "I know I come out every game scared because we're getting a little bit more respect. Not saying it's weighing on our minds or anything, but we know we're the hunted now.''
Foster said he's noticed the difference. Unlike last season, he knows his club won't be pulling any sneak attacks this season.
"I don't think there's any question when you've never been where we are right now there's a little heat involved,'' Foster said. "Even for the coaches, for example. It's not that we're afraid to lose, but when you keep picking that paper up you're ranked and every time the tube turns Virginia Tech rolls around ... if you don't watch it you start worrying about losing instead of just concentrating on winning and not worrying about it.''
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1- Virginia Tech's Damon Watlington drives over Westby CNBVirginia's Damian Owens during the second half of their game at
Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies won 68-62.
2- Virginia Tech's Ace Custis calls a timeout as he falls out of
bounds during the first half. Custis finished with a game-high 20
points and nine rebounds.
GENE DALTON/Staff