THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300412
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Carnell Penn set a school single-game record for 3-pointers and Derrick Bryant recorded a career high for points as the Norfolk State Spartans walloped Knoxville College, 115-65, Monday night at Echols Arena.
Penn made eight 3-pointers, the last coming from NBA range with 2:17 remaining, to break a nine-year-old record set by former Spartans All-American Ralph Talley.
Penn knocked down 5 of 7 from 3-point range in the first half and 3 of 6 in the second half, finishing with 27 points.
But he didn't know a record was in reach until Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard gave him the green light with four minutes remaining and the Spartans (14-2) already leading 105-61.
``I didn't even know how many 3s I had,'' said the 6-foot senior who already owns Norfolk State's career record for 3-pointers made - 181 and counting. ``I just felt very relaxed tonight.''
The record doesn't switch jersey numbers, however. Penn, who wore No. 10 as a freshman, changed to No. 32 as a sophomore.
``I caught a lot of grief for that when I did it,'' Penn said. ``People were telling me I was taking Ralph Talley's number and I shouldn't. But I'd worn 32 all my life.''
Penn should catch a little more grief from his roommate, who scored a career-high 34 points and was somehow overshadowed.
Bryant, who in the last two weeks has found a long-range jump shot of his own, canned 14 of 18 field goals, including his lone 3-point attempt.
``Derrick's worked very hard to establish his perimeter shot and he's taking people off the dribble now,'' Bernard said. ``He could always score in the paint.''
Bryant added eight rebounds and five assists in a balanced performance.
``This is the most confident I've felt all year,'' the 6-4 1/2 Bryant said. ``I just fought the move (to small forward) too much. I didn't want to play it at first and I denied myself the fact that I could play it.''
Overshadowed by Penn and Bryant was Maurice Whitfield's double-double of 16 points and 11 assists.
The Spartans had a mindset to blow out the Division III Bulldogs (8-10), who'd kept it close in Knoxville in December in an 84-75 Spartans victory.
``We had to beat some adverse conditions down there,'' Bryant said. ``The crowd was horrible, the refs were horrible. We wanted to show them a little something tonight.''
The Spartans will take a couple of days off, then return to action Saturday when they visit Bowie State. Top-ranked Virginia Union then visits Echols next Monday for a regionally televised game.
Bernard was pleased that the Spartans, knowing a blowout was likely, didn't get sloppy.
``Sometimes it gets hard to maintain the quality of play under those circumstances,'' Bernard said. ``It becomes a difficult test of mental toughness.
``Although we should have won this game easily, we still played hard for 40 minutes, which was a good sign.'' by CNB