University of Virginia Library

Fluke Bucket Is Clincher

Clemson Steals OT Thriller, 56-54

By JOHN MARKON

CD/Saxon Holt

Gus Gerard Soars Above Dave Angel For Easy Jump Shot

Clemson forward Mike
Browning picked off an
inbounds pass with five
seconds left in overtime to
write a nightmare conclusion
to last night's Clemson-Virginia
game at University Hall.

Browning's hoop was the
only difference in the Tigers'
shocking 56-54 upset win.

Just moments earlier the
partisan Cavalier fans had been
led to expect victory as the
Wahoos, rallying from a 54-52
deficit, had tied the game on a
Bob McKeag layup and
regained possession when guard
Al Drummond stole the ball
from Tiger backcourtman
Terrell Suit.

After a timeout, Parkhill,
the Cavs' All-American guard,
searched in vain for an outlet
man and, having all but used
up his allotted five seconds,
delivered a desperation pass
directly into the hands of
Browning.

Overtime was forced in a
hectic last minute of regulation
time as, with 33 seconds
remaining, guard Stevie Morris'
two clutch free throws had put
the Cavs up by a 50-48 count.

Clemson, to everyone's
surprise, had catamitic guard
Van Gregg rifle up a shot from
long distance immediately
afterward. A rebound by Wally
Walker again had Wahoo fans
dreaming of a win.

Walker quickly released the
ball to Drummond who
charged up the court and,
seeing an opening, drove into
the lane. The only thing
separating Al from an easy
layup was the leg of Browning,
an object Drummond found
impossible to avoid as he drew
an offensive foul.

Clemson got the ball and
got it off to "Mad Bomber"
Gregg, who promptly took
another 25-footer and missed
again. Tiger center Dave Angel
was there for an easy follow
shot, however, and the score
was again tied.

It took quite a comeback
for the Cavs to even reach
contending status in the game
as the team stumbled through
an atrocious first half and left
the court at intermission
trailing by an embarrassing
27-15 after hitting only six of
30 shots.

Center Gus Gerard led the
Cavs' comeback and finished as
Virginia's leading scorer with
15 points. Also assisting was
Walker who combined with
Gerard for 23 second half and
overtime points. Walker
finished with 13 points.

Helping the Tigers to their
first ACC road win in their last
38 attempts was guard Jive
Brown, a tough defensive
player who also had a good
shooting night, hitting for a
game high 17 points and
throwing a blanket over
Parkhill, who had only 12.

Also scoring for Clemson
were Angel with 13, Browning
with 14, Gregg with six despite
hitting only two of 13 shots,
and three more Tigers with two
apiece.

Virginia scoring also
included Jim Hobgood with
four and five men, Drummond,
Morris, McKeag, Andy Boninti
and Lanny Stahurski, with two
each.

Rebounding figures gave
Virginia a 41-37 edge with
Walker and Clemson forward
Jeff Reisinger, who limited
Walker to only two first half
points before getting in foul
trouble, as the leaders with
nine.

Clemson coach Tates Locke
called the game "the biggest
win since I've been at
Clemson," while Cavalier boss
Bill Gibson bemoaned his sad
fate by saying dejectedly that
"all I can say is that it was
disgusting."

Disgusting or not, the loss
dropped Virginia to an 11-8
overall record and a
disappointing 4-6 mark in the
ACC.

CD/Saxon Holt

Wally Walker Protects The Ball In Action Last Night