Van Exel Reloads on Bench, Sparks Bearcats’ Victory : East Regional: After slow start, he makes two big three-pointers as Cincinnati pulls away from Virginia, 71-54.

A careless and out-of-control Nick Van Exel caused his Cincinnati team to blow a big lead, but he came back after a benching to carry the Bearcats to a 71-54 victory over Virginia in an NCAA East Regional game Friday night.

As a result, Cincinnati has a chance to return to the Final Four for the second consecutive season and to its golden era of 30 years ago, when the school reached college basketball’s championship game three years running.

After missing 13 of 16 shots, Van Exel, a senior guard who made several All-America teams, was given a one-minute hook by Coach Bob Huggins. When he returned, Van Exel swished a pair of three-pointers that sparked a 28-10 run that ended the game.

Saying the benching “did help me calm down a little,” Van Exel wound up with 19 points and 11 assists as the Bearcats (27-4) advanced to Sunday’s regional championship game.

“I didn’t want to go out at the time, but, looking back on it, I think it was for the best,” he said.

Van Exel’s five turnovers cost the Bearcats dearly at the start of the second half, when Virginia, down by seven at halftime, recovered to take a 44-43 lead.

But, mainly due to the poor shooting of its own starting guards--Cory Alexander and Cornel Parker were a combined four of 19--Virginia could not maintain any consistency. Coach Jeff Jones’ team also committed 21 turnovers.

One of four Atlantic Coast Conference teams among the final 16, Virginia wound up 21-10.

The Bearcats won national championships in 1961 and 1962 and would have three-peated had they not been upset by Loyola of Chicago in the 1963 final.

Peeling out to a 7-0 lead, Cincinnati scored more points during the game’s opening 75 seconds than it did during the next eight minutes. Virginia tied the game at 10-10, dominating the boards and forcing the Bearcats to shoot from outside.

That was OK with Van Exel, who shoots without conscience, at times aiming and firing his left-handed jumpers without so much as a glance at the hoop. Van Exel ended the game six of 21 from the field, 11 of his attempts being three-pointers.

His finger-roll after a steal was one of his few shots from short range and got Cincinnati rolling again. Fouled on the play, Van Exel added a free throw to put his team on top, and seconds later his miss on another layup was followed up by Corie Blount, whose dunk made it 20-12.

Blount, a 6-10 senior from Monrovia, had a big game for the Bearcats with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Five of his rebounds came on offense.

Cincinnati seemed to be in control at halftime, with a 31-24 lead, but Virginia struck back behind forward Junior Burrough to outscore Cincinnati, 16-5, during the opening minutes of the second half. Burrough was the most consistent player for the Cavaliers with 15 points and eight rebounds, but he turned over the ball much too often.

In fact, five Virginia players had three or more turnovers.

“We handled the basketball like it was a greased pig,” Jones said.

After being benched, Van Exel made a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 52-46 lead. He missed his next, but Terry Nelson rebounded and fed the ball back to Van Exel, who never hesitated, swishing another three-pointer for a 57-46 advantage with 7:18 to play.

Spreading his arms out to the crowd in triumph, Van Exel accepted the applause as though he had been making these shots all night. Next time down the court, on a three-on-one fast break, he attempted a fancy pass, only to have the ball squirt from his hands out of bounds.

“For a little while, the shots weren’t going in for me, but I didn’t stop shooting,” Van Exel said. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop shooting.”