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Cavs Hold On Against Rival Virginia Tech, 71-66
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Jan. 24, 2000
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Travis Watson hit both ends of a one-and-one with 2:07left in overtime Monday night and Donald Hand added two from the line with 12.9seconds to play, giving Virginia a 71-66 victory over Virginia Tech.
The Cavaliers (13-5), who forced the overtime by holding Virginia Techscoreless for the last 3:05 of regulation, were 7-for-8 from the line in theextra period, equalling the Hokies’ made free-throws total for the game.
Virginia Tech (9-9) has now lost 70 of its 114 meetings against its in-staterival, a series that has run for the last 66 years in a row, and 21 of 26.
Hand scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime, including eight straightduring a 16-2 run early in the second half and seven in the extra period.
But it was Watson, who missed two free throws with 1:52 left in regulationthat could have tied the game and the front end of a one-and-one after givingthe Cavaliers the lead, that made the scores that counted most – with 2:07 toplay.
The shots, which came when Hokies guard Brendan Dunlop tried to strip him ofthe ball as Watson went up for a shot, were the only two he made in six trieson the night, and also cost the Hokies Dunlop, their catalyst down the stretch.
When he fouled out, Dunlop had scored 14 of the Hokies last 21 points.
Dennis Mims drew the Hokies to within 67-66 with a turnaround from thebaseline, but after Watson missed the front end of a one-and-one, neither teamscored again until Hand made two from the line with 12.9 seconds to go.
Roger Mason added 13 points and Adam Hall 12 for Virginia, which finished16-for-23 from the line to Virginia Tech’s 7-for-9.
Dunlop led the Hokies with 15 points and Mims had 14 and 11 rebounds.
Virginia had a chance to win it in regulation after Hand intercepted abehind-the-back pass from Dunlop near the Hokies basket, but after dribblingoff most of the clock, Hand tried to take Andre Ray one-on-one and was fouledwith two seconds left. The Cavaliers weren’t in the bonus, however, and whenthey inbounded it to Hand about 30 feet from the hoop, his last-second heavewas well short.
Virginia appeared to have taken command with a 16-2 second-half run thatended with 11 1/2 minutes to play and Virginia in front 53-41. But the Hokiesscored 19 of the next 22 points and took a 60-56 lead with 3:05 remaining.
The Hokies didn’t score again in regulation, and Roger Mason’s running12-footer with 2:29 left and Chris Williams’ 6-footer at 1:13 forced overtime.