Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1992 TAG: 9201150060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: CHATTANOOGA, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
KEYDETS FALTER IN SECOND HALF
LeVert Threats sparked a 10-point run early in the second half that propelled Tennessee-Chattanooga past VMI 83-69 in a Southern Conference basketball game Monday night.The Moccasins (11-4 overall, 2-0 Southern) won their eighth straight game, and it was VMI's 10th straight loss at UTC.
The first half was close, with UTC's biggest lead at seven points and VMI's biggest at four, but the Keydets (3-7, 1-1) trailed 32-28 at the break.
After VMI closed to 36-34 with 18:08 left in the game on Charlie Petzold's 3-pointer, Chattanooga ran off 10 points in a row, five by Threats.
VMI never got the margin into single figures again.
UTC's biggest lead was 22, the last time at 78-56 with 5:31 left to play.
"I thought we got off to a good start and ran our offense well in the first half. In the second half, we let Threats and [Keith] Nelson get loose and UTC did a good job of transition," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said.
"Overall, I thought we went after them and I'm encouraged by our play tonight and over the past couple of weeks. Our next step is to believe that we can beat teams of this caliber."
Nelson led Chattanooga with 20 points, followed by Threats with 18.
One bright spot for the Keydets was former Pulaski County star Jonathan Penn, who had a career-high 26 points.
Lewis Preston added 13 points and Percy Covington added 10 for the Keydets.
"Penn has the quickness to go by anyone, and he is rapidly becoming an outstanding player in this league," Cantafio said.
UTC shot 66.7 percent in the second half, including 6-of-7 on 3-pointers. The Moccasins were 9-of-13 for the game.