UC splits in Dickensheets Classic

TUESDAY

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MONDAY

Tech, UC renew rivlary ... if only for one night
By Chuck Landon
Daily Mail sportswriter

"Should auld acquaintances be forgot,

And never brought to mind?"

With that lyrical question in mind, West Virginia University Tech decided to start 2007 with a blast from the past.

The Golden Bears played long-time Kanawha Valley rival University of Charleston Tuesday night in the John Dickensheets Classic at West Virginia State's Fleming Hall.

Of course, the round-robin tournament could have been called the "Auld Lang Syne Classic" as far as WVU-Tech is concerned because the former West Virginia Conference member is taking another fastbreak down memory lane tonight.

The Golden Bears, who now compete in the NAIA Mid-South Conference, take on their other historic Kanawha Valley rival and former WVC colleague W.Va. State at 7:30 p.m.

Tech just hopes tonight's get-reacquainted soiree goes a little better than Tuesday's reunion with UC.

"I'm embarrassed," said Golden Bear Coach Bob Williams, after Tech's 80-67 loss to Charleston. "We played better against Cleveland State the other night."

Williams was baffled by Tech's seeming nonchalance in the first half.

"I know we're not in the conference anymore," he said, "but this is UC, State ... a local rivalry.

"Maybe we have too many new kids that don't really know that this is a rivalry."

Granted, Tech does have only one local product in starting guard Jeraude Lowe, a former South Charleston High School standout. He joins Armand Ivory as the only holdovers from last season's squad.

Yet, shouldn't the relatively short drive from Montgomery to Institute have provided some clue that these were geographic rivalries?

Williams thinks so. He said as much during a terse post-game address to his squad.

The problem was Tech's two leading scorers, Armand Ivory and Brent Butler, didn't get involved in the first half. Ivory, who entered the game averaging 19.2 points, took four shots and scored just points. Butler, averaging 16.2 points, did like-wise four shots, four points.

Tech (6-8) trailed UC (4-3) by 11 points, 38-27, at halftime and the damage was done.

But does that mean Tech has had its fill of reunion tours? Not if Williams has anything to say about it.

"We want to keep playing," he said. "It's a great game for us. I think it's important for us to keep playing these local teams."

Then, Williams paused and a wry grin creased his face.

"They'll keep playing us as long as they beat us, I guess," he said. "After tonight, they'll probably want to keep us on the schedule."

But seriously, folks.

"They both know that we want to keep playing Greg and Bryan," said Williams, referring to UC Coach Greg White and State Coach Bryan Poore. "We don't have any hard feelings toward the West Virginia Conference.

"I coached in it for nine years. I love that league."

White shares Williams' sentiments.

"We've always enjoyed the Tech rivalry," said the UC coach, who will send his Golden Eagles against Mount Olive (N.C.) at 5:30 p.m. today in the tournament. "It's great having them come to Eddie King Gym. Of course, I hate playing them in Montgomery because that's a tough place to play.

"But I miss them because it's a 30-minute road trip. Playing them brings back a lot of memories."

UC shot an impressive 52.7 percent from the floor. Dustin Kinney's 22 points and 10 rebounds led the Golden Eagles, and Marquis Brooks had 22. Robert Strickland added 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Tech got 12 points from Ivory and 11 each from Butler, Lowe and Ronald Eskridge.

But as much fun as it was for these two long-time rivals to be back on the court together, is tradition enough for an NCAA Division II member to keep an NAIA school on its schedule?

"Playing them doesn't help us any in D-II," White said. "I have a ton of respect for Bob and a ton of respect for his program.

"Personally, I would love to play Tech, but that's an administrative topic. We'll take it year to year."

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UC finding its stride: Golden Eagles click on all cylinders in win over Tech
By Tommy R. Atkinson
Charleston Gazette

The University of Charleston spent the past 14 days getting reacquainted with the fundamentals of basketball and the young Golden Eagles are beginning to show progress.

UC executed every phase of its game in dispatching West Virginia University Tech 80-67 Tuesday evening at Fleming Hall on West Virginia State’s campus in Institute.

A crowd of about 300 attended the opening game of the John Dickensheets Classic, a round-robin tournament named for the local sports radio personality. West Virginia State defeated Mount Olive (N.C.) 94-93 in Tuesday night’s second game (story, Page 4B).

Tech is renewing old West Virginia Conference rivalries with UC and State this week. Tech was a member of the WVC for 80 years before moving to NAIA beginning this school year.

Marquis Brooks and Dustin Kinney scored 22 points apiece to pace a balanced offensive attack for UC (4-3), which saw four players score in double figures. The Golden Eagles shot 52.7 percent from the field (29-of-55), including a staggering 63.6 percent (14-of-22) in the second half on mostly layups. UC also knocked down 20-of-28 free-throw attempts.

Robert Strickland and Kinney controlled the inside, grabbing 15 and 10 rebounds, respectively, as UC enjoyed a 49-33 rebounding advantage. Austin Weatherington added 14 points, six rebounds and four assists and Strickland donated 11 points. UC was playing its first game since a 72-68 win over Chowan (N.C.) on Dec. 18.

"We came back after [Christmas] break and needed to put some good workouts together,’’ said UC coach Greg White, whose team won its third straight. "We worked hard. On many of those days, we went two-a-days.

"I thought we really played with a lot of poise. I thought we played two really good halves of basketball. We methodically built the lead. I thought we really played hard. We took away [Tech’s] strengths. We played with a lot of enthusiasm and put together a nice solid performance. Winning gives you a confidence nobody can give you.’’

Armand Ivory paced Tech (6-8) with 12 points while Brent Butler, Jeraude Lowe and Ronald Eskridge dropped in 11 points each. Lowe, former South Charleston High School standout, also contributed six rebounds and three assists and Ivory had four steals.

Ivory, averaging 19.2 points, and Butler, who averages 16.2, both had just four points at halftime as Tech trailed 38-27.

"Our guys weren’t ready,’’ said Tech coach Bob Williams. "I know we’re not in the [West Virginia] conference any more but Tech-UC is a local rivalry.

"I guess we’ve got too many new kids who have no idea what it’s about. I’m really embarrassed by our performance. We missed layups we normally make inside [and] our better players didn’t give us anything in the first half.’’

UC will face Mount Olive at 5:30 p.m. today at Institute while Tech will take on State at 7:30 p.m.