THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 3, 1995 TAG: 9501030175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
It wasn't a question of if, but when.
With 4:49 left in the first half, Livingstone College led Norfolk State, 27-20. Logic said that this couldn't last, that the Fighting Bears, with a record of 1-9 and no player over 6-foot-6, couldn't stay with Norfolk State much longer.
They didn't. The Spartans (7-2, 2-1 CIAA) cut Livingstone's lead to one at the half and overpowered the Bears in the second half, cruising to a 93-73 win in a CIAA game in front of 3,233 at Echols Arena.
``In the first half, we were too impatient offensively,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard explained. ``We didn't exploit any inside options.
``In the second half we got the ball inside, we rebounded and we were able to get out in transition.''
If ever there was team that is begging to be exploited inside, it's Livingstone. The Bears' starting center was a skinny 6-5, the forwards 6-2 and 6-6. Early in the second half, their 6-6 player, Lamar Hill, fouled out.
Still, Livingstone (1-10, 1-3) shot 50 percent in the first half, most from outside.
``They were scrappy,'' Norfolk State forward Derrick Bryant said. ``They were behind you, and you couldn't see them, you couldn't find them because they were so low to the ground.''
Bryant struggled through a two-point first half, only to explode for 16 in the second half, with 15 rebounds. Corey Williams led Norfolk State with 22 points.
The game was also something of a coming-out party for center Blitz Wooten, starting in place of Charles Newborn, who was suspended by Bernard after Norfolk State's 70-68 win over Augusta last Thursday.
A transfer from LaSalle, Wooten became eligible Dec. 20 and was just 2 for 15 from the field in his first three games. Monday, however, he shot 8 for 10, scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots.
``I calmed down a little bit,'' Wooten said. ``In the first couple of games, I was rushing my shot.''
Wooten was forcing others to rush their shots Monday. A couple of his blocks led to Norfolk State layups.
``They were just a little stronger, a little more powerful inside,'' Livingstone coach Charles McCullough said. ``We'll just have to go out and get some big people.''
McCullough, who won several state titles as a Charlotte high school coach, inherited his under-sized bunch over the summer, and has tried to make the best of it.
``We just don't have the numbers to rotate in and out,'' he said. ``We play everybody tough, and the final score always ends up the same.''
Clarification: In Monday's paper it was reported that Bernard said Newborn likely would not return this season. In fact, Bernard said only that Newborn's suspension was ``indefinite.'' by CNB