CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- One sequence can hardly be called significant when it comes during the course of a 28-point blowout. But in Towson State's 94-66 loss yesterday to No. 23 Virginia, this one was at least telling.
It came with a little more than eight minutes remaining and the Cavaliers comfortably ahead. Virginia's Junior Burrough was fouled and made the first of two free throws. He missed the second, but teammate Jason Williford rebounded and tried two more follows before getting fouled himself. He then made both free throws.
"One of my assistants said to me they were playing pingpong on the boards," Towson State coach Terry Truax said. "We do teach our kids to block out. But it's really hard to prepare for a team that is so aggressive because you don't have the same resources and athletes to simulate what they're doing. Unless I could use Adrian [Dantley, assistant coach] in practice, but I can't."
Neither of Towson State's first two opponents -- Old Dominion and Mount St. Mary's -- helped the Tigers (1-2) get ready for what they faced against the Cavaliers. Virginia held a 58-32 rebounding advantage, including 30-13 on the offensive
boards. At halftime, the Cavaliers had as many offensive rebounds (14) as the Tigers had rebounds.
"That was a big difference," said junior forward Stevie Thomas, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds. "They played with more intensity than we did, but our lack of size really hurt us. It's frustrating. You play as hard as you can, but sometimes you can't do too much to help."
Only some good three-point shooting in the second half -- Towson State made five of 10 after only one of three in the first half -- prevented this from getting close to last year's 40-point defeat to Connecticut. Sophomore guard DeRon Robinson made two of three to lead the Tigers with 13 points, and sophomore forward Florian Schneider hit three of four to finish with 11.
The Tigers' leading three-point shooter and scorer, junior guard Ralph Blalock, did not attempt any threes yesterday. Blalock, who had averaged more than 26 points in Towson State's first two games, was limited to 4-for-8 shooting and scored a season-low eight points. Point guard Quintin Moody missed seven shots and failed to score.
"They kept a lot of pressure on me," said Blalock. "Their level of defense is much more intense than what we're used to in the Big South. I have to make some adjustments. I have to be able to free myself for shots."
Virginia (3-1) was able put away Towson State fairly early. After the Tigers cut the deficit to 18-12 on a tip-in by freshman forward Ralph Biggs, the Cavaliers scored 12 straight to start an 18-3 run. Towson State later cut Virginia's lead to 36-24, but the Cavaliers led by 14 at halftime and opened a 20-point edge early in the second half.
"It was probably our most consistent game," said Virginia coach Jeff Jones, whose Cavaliers had struggled in victories over Old Dominion and North Carolina A&T; as well as in their only loss, a 94-84 defeat in the second round of the Preseason NIT to eventual champion Ohio University.
"Our defense was really solid; at times it was exceptional," Jones said. "There was a stretch in the second half when we passed about as well as we can. But I don't know how we can miss so many layups. The perimeter players are doing a much better job putting the ball inside."
NOTES: Four Cavaliers were in double figures, led by Burrough with 18 points. Junior guard Cory Alexander added 16 points and seven assists, and Harold Deane had 15. Freshman forward Norman Nolan of Dunbar, seeing his most extensive time this season with 18 minutes, added 11. . . . The Tigers finish their season-opening four-game road trip tomorrow night, playing West Virginia at Shepherd College.