FURMAN HOLDS OFF VMI'S CHARGE 74-57

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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992                   TAG: 9202040147
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: GREENVILLE, S.C.                                LENGTH: Short
FURMAN HOLDS OFF VMI'S CHARGE 74-57
Furman staved off VMI's second-half charge with a run of its own and defeated the Keydets 74-57 in Southern Conference basketball on Monday night.
VMI (7-11 overall, 2-5 in the league) has lost in 15 consecutive visits to Greenville, dating to the 1975-76 season. It was the Keydets' fourth consecutive conference loss.
"Again we played hard in the second half, but we've got to understand it's a 40-minute game," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said. "This has been frustrating for us."
After trailing 36-23 at halftime, VMI whittled away at the Paladins' lead. The Keydets pulled to 52-49 with just over six minutes remaining, but that was as close as they got. Furman (12-7, 5-2) responded to the challenge with consecutive 3-point baskets by David Stamey and Hal Henderson.
During a five-minute stretch that started with Stamey's 3-pointer with just over six minutes remaining, Furman made a 20-4 run to build a 72-53 lead and coasted to victory. VMI made two free throws and one basket during Furman's run.
VMI was led by Jonathan Penn of Pulaski County with 25 points and Lewis Preston of Boones Mill with 16 points.
Henderson led Furman with 19 points, and Derek Waugh had 17, all in the first half.
"Waugh really killed us in the first half," Cantafio said, "and we were beaten badly on the boards, getting just six total rebounds.
"We were lucky to be down by only 13 [at halftime]. We worked hard to get it down to three, but we ran out of gas."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB