Despite struggling defensively all night, the Virginia men's basketball team (1-0) came up with a big stop when the team needed it most, from an unlikely source, to preserve a 90-86 victory over Long Island (0-1).
Up 86-83, Virginia junior guard Todd Billet blocked Long Island senior Antuan Dobie's three-point attempt with 12 seconds left. Billet, better known for his shooting ability, sent the ball straight to sophomore point guard Keith Jenifer. Jenifer was fouled intentionally and made one of two free throws to help seal the game.
"At that point of the game, they were down three points and you have to guard the line," Billet said of his seventh career block. "You can let them get off a three-pointer. I just wanted to contest it and happened to get a block."
The game was close the entire way, with Virginia never leading by more than 10 points. The Cavaliers seemed to be pulling away, as they opened an 80-71 lead with 4:19 left. But the Blackbirds answered with an 8-0 spurt, capped by one of Long Island senior forward JaJa Bey's four three-pointers.
Virginia responded after a timeout, and senior forward Travis Watson put back an offensive rebound for an 82-79 lead. After a defensive stop, Jenifer fed sophomore forward Jason Clark for a monster one-handed dunk. The teams then traded baskets before Dobie hit a floater in the lane to cut the lead to 86-83.
On the ensuing possession, Jenifer, who finished 0-for-7 from the field, couldn't get a jumper to fall. But Billet them came up with the key block and the Cavaliers were able to hold on against the underdog Blackbirds.
"We really did a great job coming out competing and putting Virginia on its heels," Long Island coach Jim Ferry said. "I told [my team that] we're all humans. There wasn't anyone on Virginia wearing a cape tonight. Except Watson looked pretty close."
Watson finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds and finished 11-of-13 from the field after shooting a perfect 7-of-7 in the first half.
Virginia also got 20 from Billet, including five three-pointers, and a career-high 12 points from Clark. After playing only six minutes in the first half in which he didn't score, Clark came in with 12:44 left and the score knotted at 56. He scored the game's next eight points and 10 of Virginia's next 11.
"While I was on the bench, [guard] Majestic Mapp told me, 'Jason, you're going to be our sparkplug,'" Clark said. "Part of me believed it, part of me didn't
I just do whatever it takes to help get that win, whether it's sitting on the bench, rebounding, blocking shots, whatever it takes."
Bey led Long Island with 21 points, and fifth-year senior guard Maurice Yearwood hit five three-pointers to finish with 17 points. Dobie, the top scorer in the Northeast Conference last year, had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but was forced into six turnovers.
"Antuan Dobie dominated the game for large stretches, penetrated and found open guys," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "We couldn't guard him. Their guards were spectacular and it's a guard's game."
Long Island made 10 three-pointers on 29 attempts in the game, but also out-rebounded a much bigger Virginia squad 41-30.
"They came out and played hard," Watson said. "We matched their intensity but some things didn't go our way. They played a hell of a game."
Long Island won only five games last season, but hired a new coach and has a veteran squad with six seniors.
"We beat a very good team that played great and was coached great," Gillen said. "We just couldn't stop them."
Virginia will open play in the Maui Invitational today against host Chaminade at 9 a.m. local time (2 p.m. EST). If the Cavaliers beat the Silverswords, they face the winner of Kentucky-Arizona State tomorrow at 7 p.m. EST.
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