Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991 TAG: 9102030163
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
If he had, it would have been a half too soon.
After shooting 55.9 percent in the first half, the Keydets were even hotter over the final 20 minutes. VMI shot 75 percent (15-of-20) from the field on the way to its best shooting performance of the season.
For the game, the Keydets (8-12 overall, 3-5 SC) shot 63 percent (34-of-54).
That shooting, combined with a smothering defensive effort that forced 30 turnovers, ended a three-game losing streak and allowed VMI to sweep the season series from The Citadel for the first time in five years.
"We finally shot over 60 percent," Cantafio said. "We are last in scoring and last in field-goal percentage, but we're also first in scoring defense. That's what saved us. It's when you're last in offense and middle of the pack in defense that you're really in trouble."
The Bulldogs (4-15, 0-8) had another all-thumbs performance against the Keydets. In two games, they have committed 61 turnovers.
VMI wasn't much better, committing 29 turnovers, but poor shooting kept The Citadel from capitalizing.
Trailing 43-35 at the half, the Bulldogs went scoreless on their first 10 possessions of the second half. By the time they made a field goal at the 11:32 mark, VMI was leading 54-39.
"The difference in the game was they shot well, and we did not," said Citadel coach Randy Nesbit, whose team shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68). "They were as sloppy as we were, but we let it affect our game and they didn't.
"The way we played was mind-boggling. We were ready to play before the game. I can't really explain what went wrong once it started."
VMI got a game-high 21 points from leading scorer Greg Fittz, and Percy Covington added 16, but the biggest offensive lift came from junior forward Erek Perry.
Perry, whose shooting percentage had dropped to 36.8, made six of seven shots from the floor and scored 18 points.
"I was so overdue," Perry said. "My shot has been really off. I've just been working on returning to the fundamentals and breaking my shot down segment by segment. Now, it's a matter of my having confidence in it."
Perry missed his first shot, then made his final six. He scored 10 straight points in a first-half run that turned a one-point deficit into a 23-16 lead, which the Keydets never relinquished.
"Erek Perry played very well today," Cantafio said. "He finished it off today. That stretch in the first half when he scored three straight buckets was a key in the game."
It has been a difficult first season for Perry, who sat out last year after transferring from Delaware.
An injury to his right knee just before the season opener hampered his early progress. Just before winter break, his mother died of cancer.
"It's been a tough year," Perry said. "Ever since my mom died, it's been hard mentally. It's not that I've accepted it; I've just learned to deal with it. The coaches deserve a lot of credit because they have been patient with me."
THE CITADEL MPFGFTRAFPT Holstein 356-95-5110218Mosay 286-132-282415Van-Schenbrg 222-55-66019Wright 302-70-00015Nichols 332-132-23337Hodges 40-00-01010Williamson 101-40-01023Campbell 143-70-02106Harris 212-90-02014McDowell 30-10-01000Totals 20024-6814-153661567 VMI MPFGFTRAFPT Fittz 309-133-361221Perry 276-74-461218Preston 173-51-14027Johnson 120-21-20001Covington 326-72-444316Chadwick 233-60-14516Spriggs 80-11-20111Schroyer 50-00-00010Banks 101-11-21113Penn 233-80-01016Tegtmeyer 93-30-01006Goodman 40-10-01010Totals 20034-5413-1931131585 Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: The Citadel 35-32-67 VMI 43-42-85
Three-point goals - The Citadel: Holstein 1-2, Mosay 1-1, Wright 1-4, Nichols 1-4, Williamson 1-1, Campbell 0-2, Harris 0-1, Totals 5-15. VMI: Fittz 0-3, Perry 2-2, Johnson 0-1, Covington 2-3, Chadwick 0-2, Penn 0-1, Totals 4-12.
Turnovers - The Citadel 30 (Holstein 8); VMI 29 (four with 4). Blocked shots - The Citadel 2 (McDowell, Van-Sch'enburg); VMI 2 (Fittz, Preston). Steals - The Citadel 13 (six with 2); VMI 15 (Covington 4).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Edsall, Hartzell. Attendance - 2,354.
by CNB