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 David Dacus |
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| Senior Michael Maddox had a career game with 32 points and 12 rebounds against the Tar Heels Sunday. |
In perhaps the most exciting college basketball game in the nation this year, Georgia Tech and North Carolina went to two overtimes last Sunday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. When all was said and done, four players had scored thirty or more points, one player went over forty, a late three pointer had tied the game in regulation, and two waning-moment free throws had put the game into the second OT. North Carolina, led by senior Shammond Williams' 42 points and eight three pointers, came up strong in the second overtime and managed to fend off the pesky Yellow Jackets, 107-100.
UNC came into the contest fresh off a dominating 24-point decision over top-ranked Duke. Expecting to take over the number one ranking later in the evening when the polls came out, the Tarheels did not expect much trouble from Tech.
The matchup started up closely as the teams were tied with 8:25 left in the first half. Tech held its own against the Carolina Blue as senior forward Mike Maddox scored 13 first half points. But UNC's 62 percent shooting percentage reflected a strong offense led by Vince Carter's 13 points, including a thunderous highlight-reel dunk in the opening minutes. A trey from Tech star Matt Harpring and a jumper from sophomore Jason Floyd afforded the Jackets a 22-20 lead, but the Heels fought back for an eight point lead.
UNC had a chance to go up by ten at the break, but Tech freshman Dion Glover stripped Shammond Williams of the ball and converted a breakaway slam as time expired. UNC led 40-34 at the half.
The second half began inauspiciously as the Tarheels maintained their lead. Williams caught fire after only seven first-half points. The senior guard hit five three-pointers over a short span to spur a 10-point cushion over Tech. All-America Antawn Jamison also consistently made shots in the paint. UNC led by eight with more than two minutes remaining.
However, Maddox kept the Jackets in the game with timely shooting, including several three pointers. Tech's defense shored up and started forcing some turnovers. The Jackets staged a rally and inched closer, penetrating inside, grabbing offensive rebounds, and forcing fouls from the Tarheels. With under a minute to go, Glover missed the second of two free throws, yet managed to leap in for his own rebound. He was fouled and added two more foul shots to put Tech within two points with 32 seconds left, the smallest deficit since the first half.
The Jackets immediately fouled on the Tarheels' ensuing possession. Jamison missed the second of two free throws, giving Tech a dramatic final shot at tying the game, as has happened so many times for Tech already this year. This time however, the team succeeded as Maddox put up the shot and rang in a three pointer for his 28th point of the game and an unlikely 80-80 tie.
The Heels then ran the ball back down the court without calling a timeout. Guard Ed Cota, without a field goal the entire game, strangely took control, but missed a runner from the top of the paint. The clock sounded as regulation ended. Tech had managed to come back from a ten-point second half deficit, including seven down with a minute and a half remaining.
Tech came out gunning in overtime, securing a 86-82 lead after threes from the senior tandem of Maddox and Harpring. Glover, who finished with 22 points, gave Tech a 90-88 lead with a steal and layup. Tech then regained possession with less than a minute left, but could not knock down the put-away shot. As the clock wound down, Vince Carter made a beautiful clearing pass to Williams who was fouled and calmly made the tying free throws with :06 left. Glover hustled down the court and passed to an open Floyd, who missed an open jumper from the side. Maddox tipped in the rebound, but officials ruled the horn had already sounded. The 90-90 tie sent the game to a second OT.
Two baskets from Harpring gave the Jackets the last lead they would have, 95-94. Shammond Williams then took over, hitting two treys for a 101-95 lead, including one from NBA range. He finished off the game with six free throws, totaling 12 points in the second overtime alone. His final tally netted a sparkling 42 points, including 8-of-11 from behind the arc and 12-of-12 from the free throw line. No Tarheel had scored so many points in a game in 11 years.
"I was taking what they were giving me," explained Williams. "That's all. I wasn't in a zone."
Williams had a stellar supporting cast. Jamison, the likely national player of the year, made 11-of-17 shots, mostly from inside, for 31 points. Carter added 19 and Cota dished 13 assists. Overall, UNC shot an unheard of 64 percent.
Tech's pair of seniors had career days. Maddox unquestionably played the game of his career, scoring a career-high 32 points and getting 12 rebounds. Harpring followed suit with 30 points and 16 rebounds, both career highs. He also played all 50 minutes of the contest.
The Jackets outrebounded UNC, 46-29, keyed by their astounding 24 offensive boards. But Carolina's 10-for-18 three-point shooting buried Tech.
"This is definitely one of the most exciting games I have been a part of," commented an unfazed Coach Bobby Cremins after the game. "I felt we stopped them in their inside plays and drives, but their threes and Williams kept coming."
Maddox, off his sensational game, realized UNC's excellence.
"Carolina executes, executes, executes. Williams wouldn't go away," he related.
The 207 points between Tech and UNC represent the highest scoring ACC game since 1990.
This past Wednesday, Tech rebounded from the UNC heartbreak with yet another close, last-second ACC game. At Wake Forest, Tech held a nine-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, but the squad missed late free throws and succumbed to Wake's three-point barrage, including freshman Robert O'Kelly's tying shot with 20 seconds left.
The score was tied 76-76 when the Deacons decided to purposely foul the errant-shooting Jackets and take their chances with their jump shooting. The ploy backfired after Maddox hit a free throw with seven seconds left and Tech's defense slapped away Wake's last second shots.
Matt Harpring led the team again with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Freshmen Glover added 17 and Maddox netted 10.
The teams exchanged leads throughout the game. Tech appeared to have control the last 10 minutes of the game until Wake's Steve Goolsby caught fire with his distance shooting.
.JPG) David Dacus |
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| Senior Michael Maddox had a career game with 32 points and 12 rebounds against the Tar Heels Sunday. |