THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170614
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Petey Sessoms hit the big shot against Virginia a year ago in Old Dominion's victory.
Wednesday, the Cavaliers were ready for it.
Virginia's Yuri Barnes blocked a 3-point try by Sessoms with about eight seconds left at University Hall and the Cavaliers ahead by two. It was the biggest play in a game full of big plays, as 14th-ranked Virginia won, 83-80, in the opening round of the Preseason NIT.
There was little difference between the teams Wednesday. Once Virginia recovered from ODU's initial 13-2 lead, the teams were never separated by more than six points in the final 35 minutes.
ODU led or was tied the entire first half, and held a 34-33 lead at intermission. In the second half, there were 15 lead changes and four ties.
``That was a big win for our basketball team against an outstanding opponent,'' said Virginia coach Jeff Jones, whose team will host Ohio University on Friday (9:30 p.m., ESPN) in the NIT second round. ``It's kind of crazy to have a game like that as a season opener. I guess some people thought it was fun.
``Regardless of whether you won or lost, you're going to go away from that game being a better team.''
The loss produced a mixed bag of emotions from the Monarchs, who showed moxie all night, hanging in with a team regarded as among the ACC's finest. The Cavaliers were nine-point favorites.
But the Monarchs got solid play from a pair of newcomers at point guard - freshman Brion Dunlap and junior college transfer Duffy Samuels combined for just five turnovers, one fewer than Virginia's All-American candidate Cory Alexander - and battled through foul trouble inside.
``I think it shows we have a whole lot of heart,'' said Hodge, who had 20 points.
But guard Mike Jones wasn't interested in pats on the back.
``Let's not let anyone tell us we played good,'' Jones said. ``We lost by three. Hey, a loss is a loss, and we should have won.''
ODU had its chance. The Monarchs fell behind by six with 3:04 to play, but a pair of free throws by Sessoms, a 3-pointer by Mario Mullen and a Hodge basket put ODU up, 80-79, with 1:45 to play.
Virginia tied the game at 80 on Junior Burrough's free throw, then Barnes blocked a Mullen shot in the lane with just over a minute left.
The Cavaliers misfired on a pair of 3-pointers, but on one of the rebounds Alexander was fouled by Mullen. Alexander, who had a game-high 29 points but shot 10-of-26 from the field, made both foul shots with 37.3 seconds left.
ODU called time 10 seconds later, then held the ball for a last shot. Dunlap passed to Sessoms, and Barnes engulfed his 3-point try. It was one of 12 Virginia blocked shots, one shy of the school record.
``Every move I made, they had somebody bump me,'' said Sessoms, who said he might have been fouled on the last shot, but didn't expect to get the call. Sessoms led the Monarchs with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
ODU coach Jeff Capel said the play called for Sessoms to try to win it with a 3-pointer, and if he wasn't open to go to Jones. Last year Sessoms hit a key 4-point play - a 3-pointer and foul shot - with 44 seconds left in ODU's 76-69 victory over Virginia.
``Obviously Virginia was very well prepared for that,'' said Capel, who made his debut as ODU's coach. ``They did a good job of making Petey put the ball on the floor and not letting him catch it clean. It was a good defensive effort on their part.''
Jeff Jones said he told center Chris Alexander he was all alone inside with Hodge, because Virginia was going to focus on defending the perimeter.
``We weren't going to let them beat us with a 3-pointer,'' Jones said.
Dunlap picked up the ball near midcourt after the block, but his pass to the wing was intercepted by Cory Alexander, who drove to the hoop and was fouled with .8 seconds left.
``We put ourselves in a position at the end to have a chance, and that's all you can ask for,'' Capel said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Old Dominion's Duffy Samuels and Virginia's Jamal Robinson vie for
possession. With its victory over ODU, Virginia will host Ohio
University, a 78-67 winner over Ohio State, at 9:30 p.m. Friday in a
quarterfinal game of the Preseason NIT.
by CNB