THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160528
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
If Virginia's game against Duke on Wednesday had been a race, the Cavaliers would have won by coasting across the finish line with an empty fuel tank.
The Cavaliers held on for a 64-58 victory with their energy level on zero.
After leading 57-46 at 9:19 in the second half, the Cavaliers chugged the rest of the way on one field goal at 3:13 and five free throws in the final 34 seconds.
Duke, which was in the national championship game 10 months ago, dropped to 11-13 overall and 1-11 in the ACC.
Virginia (17-6, 9-3) remained in second place, with North Carolina coming to University Hall on Sunday.
The victory was the fourth in eight days for the Cavaliers, who played this one without junior Yuri Barnes.
The reserve forward-center was suspended earlier in the day.
The news came in a one-sentence statement that said Barnes had violated team policy.
Coach Jeff Jones refused to elaborate or to say if the 6-foot-8 Barnes would be back this season.
With guard Cory Alexander out with a broken right ankle, the Cavaliers head down the regular-season stretch with only seven scholarship players.
``This group is dog-tired,'' Jones said. ``The offense just held on in the second half.''
When most teams get tired, they usually ease up on defense. The Cavaliers never did, and that was decisive.
``I am proud of how we fought to win,'' Jones said.
Until the juices began drying up, the Cavaliers got good offensive performances from forward Junior Burrough (17 points, 11 rebounds) and freshman Curtis Staples (19 points, with five 3-pointers).
Staples, coming off the bench, hit all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half to help the Cavaliers overcome a 25-18 Duke lead.
His only 3-pointer in the second half provided the 11-point lead at 9:19.
Point guard Harold Deane, who has had little rest the last three games, compensated for a poor shooting game (2 for 12) by hitting three pressure free throws.
``Deane worked hard to bring the ball upcourt, and the game got a little hectic when the players got fatigued,'' Jones said.
Deane, though, mustered the strength to score Virginia's final field goal on a strong drive to the basket at 3:13.
``They played us really hard and we did get worn down at the end,'' Deane said. ``But we'll take Thursday off and be ready for Carolina on Sunday.''
Duke got to within three points twice in the last minute. It wasn't anything Duke's acting coach Pete Gaudet hadn't seen before.
``If you don't take advantage of opportunities, you are not going to win the game,'' Gaudet said.
Duke's collapse began with the first league loss to Clemson and picked up momentum when coach Mike Krzyzewski left the team because of health problems.
Deane said he could see the effects of the slide in the eyes of the Duke players.
``As the game went on, you could see them breaking up,'' Deane said. ``They have talent, but just haven't put it together yet.''
Virginia won the first game between the two in double overtime in Durham. The sweep over the Blue Devils is second for the Cavaliers in three years. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virginia's Jamal Robinson drives around Duke's Ricky Price in the
Cavaliers' win Wednesday. Virginia went to 9-3 ACC, Duke to 1-11.
by CNB