William and Mary 48, Virginia Tech 46
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 11/20/00

hokiesportsinfo.com box score

Against William and Mary, a weakness that will haunt Tech all season bit them for the first time: rebounding. The Tribe scored at the buzzer by rebounding a missed last-second shot and putting it in for a 48-46 victory.

With the score tied 46-46 and the clock winding down, William and Mary's Sherman Rivers shot an air ball, and the Tribe's Brian Brown grabbed it and put it in at the buzzer for the victory. The offensive rebound was one of 16 offensive boards on the night for William and Mary. Tech only had 10 offensive rebounds, and the Hokies were outrebounded by William and Mary 38-33 for the game.

Both teams shot poorly. Tech hit 32.6% from the field and W&M shot 31.5%. Tech was also just 13-23 (56.5%) from the free throw line, and the poor shooting and rebounding doomed the Hokies to the loss.

Tech was led in scoring and rebounding by Dennis Mims, who had 11 points and 13 rebounds. Mims shot 4-7 from the field and was the only Hokie to shoot over 50%, with his fellow starters (Jon Smith, Bryant Matthews, Chris Exilus, and Carlos Dixon) going a combined 8-26 (30.7%). Dixon scored 9 points, and guard Brian Chase, in his first game back from an injury, scored 8. Tech shot 5-19 (26.3%) from the three-point line. W&M was led in scoring by Jim Moran with 16 and Rivers with 14.

The Hokies trailed almost the entire game. William and Mary extended a 26-24 half time lead to 7 points early in the second half, but Tech fought back to tie it at 39 on a three-pointer by Matthews with 7 minutes to go. The Tribe pulled back ahead, 46-42, and the Hokies were able to tie it again on a three-pointer by Dixon with 1:34 to go.

After the Tribe missed a shot and rebounded it, they turned it over, and the Hokies came into possession with 35 seconds to go. Exilus drove the lane and attempted to dish off, but the pass was tipped and resulted in a turnover with 8 seconds to go. On William and Mary's ensuing possession, Rivers missed his shot and Brown rebounded it and put it back in for the win.

Tech falls to 1-1, and William and Mary goes to 2-0. The Hokies' next game is Friday night in Cassell Coliseum against Virginia. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m, and the game will be broadcast by ESPN+ (click here for station info).

           

TSL Men's Hoops Page

TSL Home