Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992 TAG: 9201260185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
EAST TENNESSEE STATE ENDS KEYDETS' 3-GAME WIN STREAK
VMI's basketball team had several opportunities to fold against talented East Tennessee State on Saturday at Cameron Hall.However, having the choice of settling for an embarrassing blowout or fighting until the end, the Keydets chose the latter.
While it wasn't enough to prevent an 80-68 Southern Conference loss, VMI had plenty of positives on which to build.
"Our kids played hard again and didn't back down from them," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said. "Every time they made a run, we would come back to keep it close. That says a lot about our kids."
Calvin Talford, the 1987-88 Timesland Athlete of the Year from Castlewood High, and senior forward Rodney English eached scored 20 points as East Tennessee State ended VMI's three-game winning streak.
Midway through the second half, the Buccaneers (11-5 overall, 4-1 Southern) used an 18-2 run to turn a six-point lead into a 69-47 advantage with 8:02 left.
VMI (6-8, 2-2) outscrapped ETSU the rest of the way and made the score respectable.
Last season, under similar circumstances, East Tennessee State came off a home loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga and vented its frustration on the Keydets 97-66. The Buccaneers tried to repeat the performance Saturday.
"We built a 20-point lead and played well at times but just couldn't sustain the momentum," East Tennessee coach Alan LeForce said. "VMI has some very talented players, and it will be tough on the rest of the teams in the conference to come in here and win. The main thing is we got a much-needed win on the road."
Although overmatched, VMI stayed with the bigger, quicker and deeper Buccaneers for 25 minutes.
Trailing 51-45 with 14:09 remaining, the Keydets had a chance to get closer.
Junior forward Jonathan Penn, who led the Keydets with 19 points, slid down the left baseline and tried a pull-up jumper. He was bumped to the floor on the attempt, and ETSU center Greg Dennis deflected the shot.
VMI didn't get the foul it wanted, and Talford sank a 17-footer at the other end. The Keydets missed again, and Jason Niblett (12 points) drove the length of the court for a transition layup to make it 55-45.
The Keydets got two points on their next eight possessions, and ETSU pushed the margin to 22.
Talford had six points and ended the spurt with a tip-in.
"[East Tennessee] is a very talented team," Penn said. "`We broke down three or four times, and you can't afford to do that against a team like that."
VMI couldn't contend with East Tennessee's athleticism and depth in the second half.
The Buccaneers held a 44-33 rebounding advantage. Sixteen of their 21 offensive rebounds came in the second half and usually resulted in second-chance baskets.
"I thought we did a good job in the first half of running our offense and keeping them off the boards," said Cantafio, whose team trailed 37-30 at the half. "But there is only so long you can hold them off. They have so many weapons and are very quick in all aspects of the game."
By using a three-man rotation of Trazel Silvers, Jerry Pelphrey and Marty Story to bump and chase down Penn, the Buccaneers' trio had VMI's leading scorer worn out midway through the second half.
Penn, who played all 40 minutes, had five points on 2-of-8 shooting in the second half.
"It was pretty physical," said Penn, who played at Pulaski County High. "The referees can't see it, but they use their bodies pretty good. I got tired. Maybe I should have put my hand up to take a rest, but I wanted to contribute to the team."
At 6 feet 4, Talford was bigger than any of VMI's off guards. The Keydets got 15 points from the shooting-guard spot, but few of those came when Talford was in the game.
VMI center Lewis Preston scored 18 points to extend his double-figure scoring streak to six games. Percy Covington scored 12 to push his to five, and Juan Banks added 10 points. \
see microfilm for box score