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Cavaliers Win Their Third Straight
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February 3, 1999
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Donald Hand scored the first nine points of thesecond half and Virginia used a 22-4 run immediately after halftime to pullaway, then hung on to beat Wake Forest 64-54.
Virginia (13-10, 3-7 Atlantic Coast) used a stifling, ball-hawking defenseto take control after a 31-all tie at the half. The Cavaliers allowed one fieldgoal in the first 14:22 of the half while forcing eight turnovers.
It was the third straight victory for Virginia, while Wake Forest (12-10,3-7) lost for the sixth time in seven games. The Demon Deacons’ only victory inthe streak was an 85-72 shocker against No. 7 Maryland on Sunday.
Hand, who finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, scored the last two ofthe first half to tie it, then started the second half with a 3-pointer. Headded two free throws and twice drove into the middle of the Demon Deacons’interior defense to score on acrobatic layups, making it 40-31.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, didn’t scratch until Darius Songaila’s reverse layupwith 12:43 to play made it 40-33. Virginia then ran off five straight, Songailahit two free throws and the Cavaliers scored the next eight.
Antwan’s Scott’s putback dunk with 5:38 left was only the second field goaloff the half for Wake Forest. It came on their 12th attempt, and left themtrailing 53-37 against an inspired, but dragging, Virginia team.
Wake Forest then caught fire, closing the gap to 57-52 on a 3-pointer byRobert O’Kelley, but Hand made two free throws with 1:48 left, Chezley Watsonhit one at 1:26 and Hand hit two more with 59.1 to play to end it.
The Cavaliers, who lead the ACC in free throw shooting at 73.3 percent,scored their last 17 points from the line and finished 26-for-32.
Chris Williams and Willie Dersch added 14 points each for Virginia, withWilliams also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Scott paced Wake Forest with 13 points and O’Kelley and Songaila had 12.