University of Virginia Library

Tigers Nip Cagers

By Ted McKean

Photo By Bob Gill

Guard Tony Kinn Launches Long Bomb Toward Hoop In Loss To South Carolina, 86-70

Cavaliers Dropped Another One Last Night, But By Closer Margin Of 92-90 To Clemson Tigers

Behind a spectacular 35 point
performance by guard Butch
Zatezalo, the Clemson Tigers pulled
a major upset in whipping the
Cavaliers last night by the score of
92-90. Games have been blown
before, but this one had to be one
of the most appalling.

The Cavaliers maintained
control of the game virtually from
the outset, but Zatezalo sparked a
rally almost single handedly starting
with eight minutes remaining in the
second half. At that point, he hit a
blaze of jump shots which nullified
the ten point lead which Virginia
had previously easily maintained.

Unfortunately, Bill Gibson's
boys were without the services of
their leading scorer, Mike Wilkes,
who went home following the
South Carolina game because of a
sickness in his family. This should
not be considered an excuse for the
loss, however, since the Tigers
played without their outstanding
captain, 6-7 center Richle
Mahaffey, who is out with an
injury.

The game opened sedately
enough, with Bill Fulton replacing
the departed Wilkes very
adequately. Gradually, the Cavaliers
opened a lead which appeared to be
insurmountable to the observer. By
midway through the half, the
visiting Virginians were in
command, 26-19.

By the five minute mark, the
lead was up to ten points, 37-27.
Tony Kinn, who had been hitting
well from the outside, was replaced
by John English, whose layup at
2:00 gave Virginia her largest lead
to that point, 45-34. After an
exchange of baskets, the half came
to an end with the score standing
49-41, and the Cavaliers in
command, seemingly.

Such was not the case, however.
The Virginia shooting percentage of
60% certainly must not have
daunted the spunky Tigers.

At the fifteen minute mark,
Zatezalo was fouled by Fulton after
making his shot, and the Clemson
sharp shooter converted the three
point play to bring his team within
four, at 56-52.

The Cavaliers rallied their forces,
and managed to push the lead back
up to the ten point area in their
favor, primarily behind a
tremendous shooting display by
Kinn. By the ten minute mark, the
score stood 74-63, after Kinn had
hit seven in a row.

The lead was less permanent
than it appeared. Suddenly, the
Clemson hoop in Littlejohn
Coliseum began to act like a
vacuum cleaner, and Zatezalo was
the man who was feeding it. Kin
countered some of his baskets with
scores of his own, but by 4:55, the
lead was cut to 85-84.

Zatezalo then pumped in several
quick ones to finally put the Tigers
in the lead, 90-88, at 2:00.
Kennelly missed at 1:20, and
Zatezalo made another, to make it
92-88. Unbelievable!

John Gidding then made two
clutch foul shots which brought the
Cavaliers back in reach, 92-90, but
Clemson had the ball. The Tigers
brought it up court, and attempted
to freeze, but Fulton came up with
a key interception. Time was called
with eight seconds remaining.

When play resumed, the pass
inbounds to Norm Carmichael was
intercepted, and the shocked
Cavaliers found themselves on the
wrong end, 92-90. One could say
they blew it, as the none too
vicious Tigers pushed their
impressive. Conference mark up to
2-11.

While Zatezalo led all scorers for
the game with 35 points, 28 in the
second half, it was all Tony Kinn
for the Cavaliers. The third-year
guard from Harrisburg, Pa. hit for
28 points. It appears that Kinn has
regained the form he knew last
year, when he was one of the top
sophomores in the ACC.

Carmichael trailed Kinn in the
scoring parade for Virginia with 18
points, and behind him came
Gidding with 15, and Chip Case
with 14. Kevin Kennelly added a
number of key assists. And Bill
Gibson had an acute Excedrin
headache.