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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 7, 1993                   TAG: 9301070235
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and Associated Press reports
DATELINE: JOHNSON CITY, TENN.                                LENGTH: Short

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ETSU TOPPLES KEYDETS 71-54

Tony Patterson scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to give East Tennessee State a 71-54 victory over VMI in Wednesday night's Southern Conference basketball opener for both schools.

Jerry Pelphrey hit a 12-footer with 19:42 to go in the second half and began a 23-8 run for the Buccaneers (5-3), who had led 31-30 at halftime.

The spurt ended with a layup by Pelphrey at the 9:39 mark, which gave East Tennessee State a commanding 53-39 lead.

The Keydets (2-5) never got closer than 61-45 the rest of the way.

VMI made only eight of 27 field-goal attempts in the second half.

Pelphrey scored 13 points and Justin McClellan had 12 for ETSU.

Jonathan Penn and Lewis Preston each scored 14 for VMI.

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