As he did throughout his brilliant college career, Bryant Stith came through when it counted.
Stith, Virginia's career scoring leader, didn't score a single point against Notre Dame in the first 181/2 minutes of the second half of Wednesday night's NIT championship game. But he made a clutch jumper and two free throws at the end of regulation and hit five free throws in overtime, leading the Cavaliers to an 81-76 victory and their second NIT title.The 6-foot-5 senior finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, and was named the tournament's most valuable player.
The Cavaliers (20-13) overcame a career-high 39 points by Notre Dame guard Elmer Bennett, who sent the game into overtime on a leaning 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left in regulation.
"I struggled in the second half," said Stith, who made six of 14 shots and 10 of 12 free throws. "But at crunch time, I wanted the ball."
Stith joined such stars as Ralph Sampson, Walt Frazier, Lenny Wilkens and George Mikan as MVP of the tournament.
It was the most points in an NIT game since 1979, when Alabama's Reggie King scored 43 against Virginia in a second-round game. Bennett scored 38 points earlier this season against Detroit Mercy.
LaPhonso Ellis scored 20 points for Notre Dame, which entered the NIT with a 14-14 record.