ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997 TAG: 9702270052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
WHILE VIRGINIA TECH cried foul over the finish, UVa reveled in its 58-57 victory over the Hokies.
It was apparent before Virginia and Virginia Tech took the floor that their basketball game Tuesday night would prove nothing.
While a loss would have been devastating for the Cavaliers, all they gained from a 58-57 victory was a few more days in NCAA Tournament limbo.
Maybe that's preferable to NIT limbo, but no one could tell from the Hokies' effort if they were lacking for motivation at the Richmond Coliseum.
Tech (14-14) had two chances to win the game in the closing seconds and, when the game ended, the floor was littered with bodies from both teams.
Tech coach Bill Foster was not in the office Wednesday as the Hokies observed their NCAA-mandated off day. But, before preparations began for Xavier's visit Sunday, his staff took more than a few looks at Tech's final possession against UVa.
The general consensus - coaches are not allowed to comment publicly on such matters - was that, while Jim Jackson may not have been fouled on Tech's final shot, Brendan Dunlop was bumped on a layup attempt with eight seconds left.
``Watch the film,'' countered Virginia coach Jeff Jones. ``That's all I'll say.''
At first, it appeared that UVa freshman Colin Ducharme may have blocked Jackson's ``runner'' from the left wing, but replays indicate that the ball may have slipped off Jackson's hands.
``I think he was trying to loop it over me,'' Ducharme said. ``I didn't want to try and block the shot because I didn't want to foul him and give him the free throws. I didn't touch it.''
At the very least, Ducharme blocked Jackson's path to the basket. Once recruited by the Hokies, Ducharme finished with nine points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
``We were fortunate that Colin played so well,'' Jones said. ``Looking at the film, he made about a half-dozen plays that were spectacular in terms of effort. He came back to his hometown and, I think, did himself real proud.''
Although both teams entered the game with a reputation for defense, the offenses took control early. Tech hit eight of its first 10 shots in taking an 18-10 lead and finished at 46.2 percent for the game.
Virginia shot 56.1 percent, marking the first time in 17 games that a Tech opponent had shot 50 percent or better. It was only the fourth time all season that UVa had shot 50 percent or better and the second time since November. Although Virginia shot 64.1 percent in the first half, the Cavaliers had 12 turnovers and took 11 fewer shots than the Hokies in falling behind 29-27.
When Virginia had four more turnovers in the first five possessions of the second half, Tech extended its lead to 36-29.
The Cavaliers have lost seven games they led in the second half and they played giveaway again Tuesday night. After going ahead 58-53 on a Curtis Staples 3-pointer with 2:55 left, UVa did not score again.
``We did the job defensively,'' UVa point guard Harold Deane said. ``That's the bottom line. If you want to be a good team, then you have to stop them at the end.''
Deane would have a hard time getting the Hokies to believe the game came down to a defensive stop. Tech has lost five of its past six games and four have been decided by five points or fewer.
Virginia (17-11) would like to have an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament before it goes to the ACC tournament. On Sunday, the Cavaliers entertain Maryland, which is 4-1 against Virginia since the 1994-95 season.
``I am sure there are those who can put it more eloquently than I,'' Jones said, ``but, even if everything we feel is at stake wasn't at stake, it would still be a huge game. It would be a very emotional game, being the final home game for Harold [Deane], Jamal [Robinson] and Martin [Walton]. But you add that to everything else and it's really, really, really big.
Apparently, it doesn't get any bigger than that.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) J.Jackson, Ducharme.by CNB