THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 13, 1995 TAG: 9502130158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOUG DOUGHTY, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Curtis Staples, in only the 22nd game of his college basketball career, hit a school-record nine 3-pointers Sunday as 17th-ranked Virginia defeated Nevada-Las Vegas, 75-65.
``I remember somebody telling me before the season that the record was eight,'' said Staples, a 6-foot-3 guard. ``I knew I'd get it before I left the university. I just didn't think it would be this year.''
Richard Morgan, the previous record-holder, was sitting in the crowd Sunday at University Hall. Morgan was 8 of 15 on 3-pointers in a 106-83 victory over North Carolina in 1989.
Staples, who made his first six 3-point shots, finished 9 for 12. He got the record with 1:18 left on a bomb from the left wing, following a crosscourt pass from Junior Burrough.
``I was worn out,'' said Staples, who came to Virginia from Oak Hill Academy, where he made 161 3-pointers as a senior. ``I wanted out (of the game), but I knew I needed one more for the record. I was just waiting for that one to go.
``Today, for some reason, I had a feeling I hadn't had in a while that everything I put up was going down. I was in a zone today. I didn't shoot the lights out in warm-ups, but, when I got in the game, everything was different.''
Staples was 0 for 2 from inside the arc and had to yield game scoring honors to teammate Harold Deane, who made five 3-pointers and matched his college high with 28 points. Staples had 27, also his high.
Deane also contributed seven assists in just under 40 minutes. He was ``rested'' for the last 2.6 seconds of the first half after playing all but the last 16.7 seconds Saturday in a 62-44 victory over Clemson.
``I think our whole team needs to rest,'' U.Va. assistant Tom Perrin said. ``I'm very concerned with Harold playing this many minutes. I told Harold just to go home because he's going to have to go 40 again Wednesday (against Duke).''
It was Perrin who met with the media, because head coach Jeff Jones became ill during the night and did not arrive at the arena until minutes before game time. UNLV coach Tim Grgurich, suffering from exhaustion, remained in his Charlottesville hotel room.
Grgurich has not been on the bench for the last 12 games, and the Runnin' Rebels were without leading scorer Kebu Stewart, back in Las Vegas undergoing treatment for tendinitis in both knees.
Virginia also was without one of its prominent players, junior guard Cory Alexander, who was in street clothes on the bench after suffering a broken ankle Wednesday night.
It was a traumatic week for the Cavaliers, who had been in the air only minutes Saturday night on the way home from Clemson when their airplane lost power in one of its engines and had to return to the Greenville-Spartanburg (S.C.) airport.
The Cavaliers did not return to Charlottesville until nearly midnight - approximately five hours later than scheduled - but overcame some sluggish play early in both halves in raising their record to 16-6.
U.Va. led, 38-32, at the half, never lost its lead despite missing 13 of 15 shots to start the second half. UNLV (9-10) stayed close behind the outside shooting of Patrick Savoy and Clayton Johnson.
Savoy scored 20 points and Johnson added 19 for the Runnin' Rebels, who were 11 of 20 on 3-point shots. UNLV was 10 of 12 on 3-pointers Saturday night in an 84-73 victory over William and Mary. by CNB