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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992                   TAG: 9201120160
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: CULLOWHEE, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

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KEYDETS END VICTORY DROUGHT

Senior forward Charlie Petzold scored a career-high 19 points and VMI used a 16-2 second-half run to down Western Carolina 79-74 Saturday in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

The victory was the first in five games for the Keydets and gave the Catamounts their fifth straight loss.

VMI (3-6, 1-0) trailed 38-36 at halftime, but hit six of its first eight shots after intermission and outscored WCU 16-2 in the first five minutes of the half. Lewis Preston scored six points and Jonathan Penn four during the surge, which gave VMI its biggest lead of the game, 52-40.

The closest Western Carolina (4-7, 0-1) came was four points, 76-72, with 25 seconds remaining. But Penn hit four free throws in the final minute to help VMI hold on.

"It's a great win, which we badly needed, and a tremendous way to start the Southern Conference," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said.

"The start of the second half was the key. We took it inside a couple of times and did an excellent job on the offensive boards."

Penn finished with 17 points and Preston 10. Petzold led all scorers and also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

"Charlie's performance doesn't surprise me," Cantafio said. "He has been playing consistently well all year long." \

see microfilm for box score

Keywords:
BASKETBALL

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