THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997 TAG: 9701280418
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: 58 lines
There was only one thing about Maurice Howell's winning shot on Monday - the simple fact that the basketball somehow managed to go through the net.
Howell's prayer shot and subsequent free throw with 28 seconds left broke a tie as Norfolk State defeated Winston-Salem State 71-68 for its fourth straight victory before a crowd of 3,200 at the C.E. Gaines Complex.
The Rams (7-9, 3-6 CIAA) got off two unsuccessful 3-point attempts in the closing seconds.
``I just went to the hole,'' Howell said of his third field goal of the night. ``I just went strong.''
And there had to be a great measure of strength that aided Howell's shot from just inside the free-throw line.
Howell got the ball on the left side of the floor, then penetrated as time was running down on the shot clock. When he approached the free-throw line, two Rams defenders converged and tried to block the shot. Somehow, Howell got off something in between a hook and a jumper that found the net.
Yet, his job was not complete. Howell then went to the free-throw line, where the Spartans (12-5, 7-2) had only shot 5 for 13 in the half.
``We missed four free throws that should have put us up six (points),'' Spartans coach Mike Bernard said of opportunities in the final 2:19. ``But we needed that free throw because with that free throw, it allowed them not to go inside.''
And letting the Rams have the opportunity to tie with two points could have been pivotal for the Spartans.
Rodney Carmichael, NSU's leading scorer and rebounder, fouled out with 3:47 left with 22 points. Carmichael picked up his fifth foul trying to block a shot by Darryl Hardy, the Rams' big man inside, who finished with 15 points.
However, the Spartans did not lose a beat with Carmichael on the bench. The Rams scored only once in his absence - a jump shot by Larry Patterson that tied the game at 68 with 1:30 left.
``Both teams had a shot at the end,'' Rams coach Samuel Hanger said. ``Norfolk State is a little bit more experienced and disciplined than us.''
Sean Blackwell was a veteran who stepped up for the Spartans. Blackwell was sent into the game in the first half after Winston-Salem State scored on consecutive thunderous dunks. In just eight minutes of first-half action, he grabbed three rebounds, had two steals and blocked a shot.
After Carmichael picked up his fourth foul in the second half, Blackwell went back into the game. On the Spartans' next possession, he posted up and scored his only points of the night. On the ensuing defensive possession, he blocked a shot.
``That's the thing about this team,'' Howell said. ``We have people who can step it up.''
And score. For the fourth straight game, the Spartans shot at least 50 percent from the floor (30 of 58). On the other end, they have their opponent to under 50 percent for the fourth straight game.
NOTES: Bernard was named CIAA Coach of the Week after NSU's three wins last week. . . . Freshman Dion Woods earned rookie honors for the second straight week after totaling 47 points, seven rebounds and five steals in the three games.