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Feb. 12, 2000
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Travis Watson had a career-high 20 points andDonald Hand had all 17 of his points in the second half as Virginia beat NorthCarolina State for the 12th straight time at home Saturday night, 88-82.
The Cavaliers (16-8, 6-5 ACC) ran off six straight points – four by Watson -after falling behind at 66-65 with 6:07 left, then closed out the Wolfpack forthe 14th time in their last 18 meetings, ending a three-game losing streak.
North Carolina State (15-7, 5-6), which dropped into fifth place in the ACCbehind the surprising Cavaliers, lost despite 25 points from Kenny Inge and 19from Damien Wilkins.
Virginia used an 11-2 run early in the second half to go ahead 47-43 and ledby as many as six until Clifford Crawford came on and scored eight pointsduring a 15-8 run that put the Wolfpack ahead for the first time since justafter halftime.
But Watson, who also had 12 rebounds, responded with an 8-footer, DonaldHand followed with a free throw and Watson scored again, this time from 4 feetaway, to make it 70-66. A free throw by Chris Williams made the lead five.
Inge converted both ends of a one-and-one to stem the tide momentarily, butAdam Hall’s basket and another free throw by Williams all but sealed theoutcome.
The Wolfpack did get within 83-80 when Damien Wilkins converted three freethrows with 21.7 seconds left. Majestic Mapp then made one of two foul shotswith 21.1 seconds left to make it 84-80, Gainey scored on a layup with 16.6seconds to go and Hand hit two free throws with 8.4 seconds to play to clinchthe victory.
The loss was the third in a row for the Wolfpack.
Hall also contributed a sensational soaring block to the outcome. The playcame with just over two minutes left as Justin Gainey attempted a fast breaklayup that would have pulled North Carolina State to within five. But Hallclosed quickly on Gainey, anticipated the shot and slapped it away as the crowdroared.
The Wolfpack led 37-32 after a very physical first half in which Ingedominated the smaller Cavaliers for 15 points, including four dunks, and Watsonand Keith Friel kept Virginia from getting blown out of University Hall.
Watson had eight of Virginia’s first 12 points, and Friel had eight in aspan of 1:40 late in the half. His two 3-pointers were Virginia’s first makesoutside 8 feet.