Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 19, 1992 TAG: 9201190095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and wire reports
DATELINE: HUNTINGTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
HOT-SHOOTING KEYDETS DROP HERD 74-69
VMI, which shot 42 percent in its first 11 games, suddenly found its range Saturday in a 74-69 Southern Conference basketball victory over host Marshall.Jonathan Penn scored 21 points and the gang that couldn't shoot straight hit 56 percent of its field-goal attempts, including 75 percent in the first half.
The Keydets (5-7 overall, 2-1 in the league) hit seven of nine 3-point attempts in the first half.
"I don't know that I have been associated with a team that shot 75 percent in a half," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said. "I was stunned when I saw that figure. I think we're running our offense a little bit better.
"A couple weeks ago, I didn't think we would win a game. We were shooting 33 percent from the field and 58 percent from the line. We're a little bit more patient now. We've got good shooters."
Coming into the game, VMI was shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. On Saturday, the Keydets shot 58 percent.
Penn and three other players scored in double figures for the Keydets, who led 42-38 at halftime.
VMI's biggest lead was 41-22 with 3:42 left in the half, after Penn made two free throws.
Marshall (3-10, 0-3), which plays at Virginia today, played without leading scorer and rebounder Tyrone Phillips, who has a sprained knee.
After halftime, the Keydets cooled off. They hit six of 17 free throws in the second half, leaving the door open for a Marshall rally.
But the Thundering Herd got no closer than five points. Frank Martin hit a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to pull Marshall to 72-67.
"Our kids are really playing well," Cantafio said. "In the second half, we were good enough to hold off a couple of runs. We made enough free throws down the stretch to save us. We are a little shaky in that department."
Lewis Preston had 16 points, three rebounds and a school record seven blocked shots for VMI. Percy Covington added a season-high 14 points and Juan Banks 11.
"We haven't shot that well in a long time," said Covington, VMI's point guard. "Coach told us if we just kept running our offense, we could do it."
Martin scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half for Marshall, Glen Staples added 14 and Luke Gross had 11.
Marshall outrebounded VMI 38-29.
"We were missing inside, and VMI just shot the ball extremely well," said Marshall coach Dwight Freeman. "They really did a good job of knocking down the open shot."
Freeman said his staff had put together a highlight film of the season and showed it to the players to rev them up coming into the game.
He said the Thundering Herd is learning it must play more fundamental basketball.
"They [Marshall] have some habits they've been able to get by with on sheer athletic ability," Free man said. "We're trying to break them of those."
\ see microfilm for box score