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Clemson Tigers Fall To Cavaliers' Surge 82-75

Cagers Led By Wilkes' Scoring,
Team's Backboard Domination

By Ted McKean
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Photos By Rich Wright

Mike Wilkes: Cavalier Forward Tallied 30 Points

Behind the hot shooting of forward
Mike Wilkes, Virginia ran
away from the Clemson Tigers in
the second half to win by an 82-75
score and up the season slate to 8-6.
The game was marked by sloppy
play throughout the first half, but
when the junior front court ace
Wilkes found the range (23 of his
30 points in the second half), the
Cavaliers came alive and
overpowered the opposition.

Wilkes undoubtedly came up
with his best game of the season,
for in addition to pumping in 30
points, he grabbed 15 rebounds,
tops for both teams. He received
capable support once again from
John Gidding and Norm Carmichael,
who tallied 18 and 13
points respectively. Gidding as well
pulled down 12 rebounds before he
retired from the game with five
fouls at 3:18 on the scoreboard.

At the outset, the game dragged,
with Zatezalo of Clemson, the
ACC's leading scorer last year, alternating
baskets with the big men
from Virginia. Clemson failed to
work the ball inside, and relied on
hot outside shooting from their
guards, while Virginia appeared to
have little trouble penetrating the
Tiger defense. A cold 38 percent
from the floor for the first half by
the Cavaliers resulted in the slight
lead of 32-31 for the home team at
the end of the first half.

Wilkes however came alive in
the second half, and Virginia picked
up a quick lead which it seldom
relinquished. Second-year guard
Kevin Kennelly hit well from the
outside, and Gidding and Carmichael
came up time and again
with key tip-ins and rebounds to
spark the resurgence.

Co-captain Chip Case returned
to action for the first time since his
knee injury in the second game of
the season, and a visible change
came over the team, and the crowd,
upon his reappearance. After his
entry at 11:01, the Cavaliers gained
an edge which the Tigers were never
again able to challenge.

With consecutive scores by
Wilkes, Carmichael, Wilkes again,
and Tony Kinn at the five minute
mark, the score stood 68-64 in
Virginia's favor, and Clemson began
to press hard for the ball, resulting
in their fall. John English, Kinn,
and Kennelly, alternating at the
two guard spots, handled the ball
adeptly, and forced numerous Tiger
errors and fouls. With Wilkes still
carrying the scoring burden, the
Cavaliers maintained a margin of six
points until the final buzzer
sounded with the scoreboard
reading 82-75 to the Cavaliers.

Game's End: Cavaliers Rallied In Second Half Behind Mike Wilkes To Topple Clemson

Virginia's three big men, Wilkes,
Gidding, and Carmichael are all to
be commended on fine games. Not
only did they score prolifically, but
they virtually nullified the Clemson
rebounding effort, limiting the
Tigers to a mere 24 bounds. The
Cavailers in turn picked 39 off the
boards.

Tonight, the Cavaliers go against
the number eight team in the country,
St. Johns. St. Johns has already
recorded big victories over the two
strongest teams in the south, North
Carolina and Davidson. With Case
back, however, and Gidding
healthy, the Cavaliers should provide
ample competition.

Prior to the Cavalier's victory
over Clemson the Cavayearlings
handily disposed of the IM All-Stars
by 81-70.

In the non-counting game the
winners were led by Tim Rash,
Tom Bagby and Scott McCandlish
with 20, 19 and 18 points,
respectively. The losers were led by
Paul Hudson and Dennis Soden
with 12 points each.

Virginia Military's Rats provide
the opposition for the once beaten
Cavayearlings Monday night in the
preliminary to the Virginia - St.
John's contest.