U.Va. loss was, technically speaking, really no contest

By Doug Doughty

CLEMSON, S.C.

On a day when South Carolina was experiencing a storm-induced gasoline shortage, Virginia was left with nothing in its tank at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Cavaliers scored on their first possession of the second half to take a one-point lead Tuesday, then conked out in a 75-57 loss to 18th-ranked Clemson.

The Tigers (23-6, 9-6 ACC) had six second-half dunks against a Virginia team that was much tougher on the officials than it was the opposition.

Coach Dave Leitao was whistled for a technical in the first half, and two of his players - Calvin Baker and seldom-used freshman John Brandenburg - received technicals in the second half.

It was Leitao's first technical since early in the 2006-2007 season and the first technicals called against a U.Va. coach or player this year.

"It's unfortunate because we've been relatively technical-free," Leitao said. "I don't think any of them were of a real malicious nature."

Virginia (9-17, 3-12) suffered its 12th loss in the last 14 games, including the fourth in a row.

The 17th loss was the high for the U.Va. men's basketball team since the Cavaliers finished 11-19 in 1997-98.

Virginia has lost 33 games over two seasons for the first time since 1966-68.

The Cavaliers, who had beaten Clemson 85-81 in overtime Feb. 15 in Charlottesville, jumped to a 7-2 lead and were ahead 13-9 before the Tigers went on a 13-0 run.

That included a pair of free throws by Terrence Oglesby after Leitao received his technical with 9:07 remaining.

Leitao voiced his displeasure with the officiating crew of Gary Maxwell, Roger Ayers and Michael Stephens after seeing the Cavaliers' Jeff Jones take the ball to the basket and end up on the floor.

The no-call involving Jones was near the end of a 9:47 stretch when U.Va. was called for five fouls and Clemson none.

"I thought there was a foul and I took two steps forward," Leitao said. "I didn't realize I was that far out, but obviously I was farther out on the court than I needed to be."

The technical against Baker came when he was tied up at midcourt and slammed the ball to the floor in frustration.

"I was upset at myself more than anything," Baker said. "We had worked before the game on not picking up our dribble. I picked it up and I knew what I did was wrong. The ball flew up in the air when I bounced it, so I understood why they gave it to me."

Baker scored the first seven points of the game for U.Va. and had 12 at the half as the Cavaliers went to the locker room down 32-31. When he scored on the first possession of the second half, Virginia led 33-32.

The Cavaliers then missed their next 11 shots from the field, going nearly 8-1/2 minutes without a field goal in falling behind 52-35.

"In the first half, we felt like we were competing," said Baker, who finished with 18 points, his high in two seasons at Virginia after transferring from William and Mary. "In the second half, it really felt like there was no hope.

"They were just going on so many runs. Clemson's a good team. They play really well at home. We just didn't answer them like we did in Charlottesville."

Sophomore Mike Scott had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who got 11 points from Jones.

However, team scoring leader Sylven Landesberg was held to three points after scoring 23 points in the previous match-up against Clemson.

Landesberg was 0 for 6 from the field and made only 3 of 8 free throws after shooting 82.8 percent from the free throw line in the last 25 games.

He has failed to score from the field in four of the last five halves.

"I think teams have loaded up on him," Leitao said. "It's a difficult situation when you're a young guy and you've been successful doing it the way he's been doing it for most of the season.

"It's has led to a lot of frustration and forcing some things, but he's got to get more help from the people around him."