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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 1, 1992                   TAG: 9203010113
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PHYLLIS A. FAIR SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

VMI'S SC LOSING STREAK REACHES 9

Furman defeated VMI 72-65 in a Southern Conference basketball game Saturday at Cameron Hall.

The last time the Paladins had won at Cameron was an 84-78 overtime victory during the 1986-87 season.

The Keydets, who had not had a losing season in Cameron since 1982-83, stretched their Southern Conference losing streak to nine games and are assured a losing season at Cameron. They still can finish the season with a .500 mark by defeating the Citadel on Monday.

"Statistically, we beat them in almost every category," said VMI coach Joe Cantafio. "I thought we played good defensively. We were aggressive on the inside."

VMI's Lewis Preston and Furman's Bruce Evans continued their battle for the conference lead in field-goal percentage. Before the game, Evans was hitting 55.9 percent from the field, and Preston was at 55.6 percent.

Preston was the hot shooter for the Keydets, hitting 75 percent (6-for-8) of his field-goal attempts in the first half and 80 percent for the game (12-for-15). Evans shot 44 percent (4-for-9).

Preston also moved into third place in the conference in blocked shots. His third block, 13 seconds into the second half, gave him 149.

After leading 33-32 at halftime, Furman (16-10, 8-5) began the second half with a layup and went up by three. VMI (9-17, 2-11) responded with a layup by Jonathan Goodman and a jumper from Preston to take a 36-35 lead.

It was the first time the Keydets had the lead.

But with the score tied at 46, the Paladins began on a 7-0 run.

VMI had a chance to cut the lead back to four, but Preston was called for charging.

After trailing 59-52, the Keydets staged a late rally and tied it at 61 with 3:18 to go on Penn's 3-pointer. But it was all Furman after that.

Penn, the Keydets' leading scorer who has had 20 or more points in the past 11 games, was held to 13. \

see microfilm for box score