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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 3, 1993                   TAG: 9302030046
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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KEYDETS DISMISS STARTING GUARD

VMI basketball player Bobby Jones, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, has been dismissed from the institute for "reasons satisfactory to the school superintendent," VMI announced Tuesday.

According to a release by VMI sports information director Wade Branner, school superintendent Major Gen. John W. Knapp said the dismissal was "pertaining to an internal matter. It had nothing to do with the athletic department."

The release said that Jones was expelled for "reasons involving school regulations."

Jones, from Cincinnati, started 15 of VMI's 16 games. He was the team's third-leading scorer at 8.7 points per game and was second in assists with 30.

Jones also led the Southern Conference with 39 steals.

"Bobby was a very good defensive player, in some respects our best defensive player," VMI coach Joe Cantafio said. "He wasn't a shot blocker, of course, but the fact that he led the state in steals was indicative of his play.

"We've got enough people [but] he was a good player. We've just got to pick up the pieces and go on."

Cantafio said he probably will move 6-4 freshman Lawrence Gullette from forward to guard and start 6-8 senior Jonathan Goodman at forward.

Goodman has started the past three games for Gullette, who was hobbled with a stress fracture in his right foot. Gullette is expected to start tonight against William and Mary.

Jones, who was not available for comment, started the final eight games of the 1991-92 season. He averaged 4.7 points and earned a spot on the Southern Conference all-freshman team.

Staff writers Doug Doughty and Chris Bachelder, and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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