Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992 TAG: 9203290108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SPRINGFIELD, MASS. LENGTH: Medium
The game was the last for Bridgeport. The financially struggling Connecticut school is closing down its varsity athletic program.
Virginia Union's team celebrated briefly before walking over to console Bridgeport players and coaches. The crowd gave the Bridgeport team a standing ovation when it received its second-place trophies.
The loudest cheers were for Lambert Shell, the leading scorer in Bridgeport history with 3,001 points. Shell suffered a badly sprained instep in the Purple Knights' 127-124 quarterfinal victory over Central Oklahoma and sat out the semifinals.
Shell played most of the final in pain Saturday, scoring 11 points.
Virginia Union also won the title in 1980; Bridgeport finished second last year.
Bridgeport stayed close until the closing minutes of the first half, when a dunk by Robert McKie and two jumpers by Jones gave Virginia Union a 49-43 lead.
Virginia Union opened the second half with a 17-4 spurt, seven of those points from Johnson.
The Panthers (30-3) extended the lead to 74-53 with 11 minutes to play. Bridgeport (28-7), led by Winston Jones' 23 points and 12 rebounds, cut the deficit to 78-64 with nine minutes left, but Virginia Union pulled away again.
McKie scored 14 points and Troy Philips 11 for Virginia Union. Steve Wills had 14 for Bridgeport. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB