Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994 TAG: 9403050199
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: ASHEVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Davidson used an 8-0 run midway through the second half and showed its free-throw shooting mettle down the stretch to hold off VMI 71-61.
"We expected to win and we really had to fight that problem of playing not to lose," said coach Bob McKillop, whose Wildcats posted the most victories by the school since the 1969-70 season.
Second-seeded Davidson (21-6), a winner of 12 of 13, advanced to the semifinal round despite shooting 38 percent, its second lowest figure of the season. Davidson offset its poor shooting by outrebounding VMI 45-32.
Davidson went on its run after the Keydets (5-23) had tied the score at 45 with 10 minutes, 13 seconds remaining. George Spain scored two key baskets during the spurt, while VMI committed three costly turnovers in a span of 1:24.
"In the second half we missed a couple of easy layups," said Joe Cantafio, VMI's coach. "But we gave a maximum effort. It's fortunate that our young kids got a taste of tournament play. We did not get beat by 25 [points] and leave."
The Wildcats, the nation's second best free-throw shooting team at 75.7 percent, iced the game from the line, making 12 of 14 in the final 5:19. For the game, Davidson was 26-of-36 at the line.
"If it comes down to a free-throw shooting contest you might as well pack it in," Cantafio said. "That's a very good basketball team."
Tenth-seeded VMI was trying to become the first team since Duke in 1950 to win two tournament games as the bottom seed. The Keydets became the first team in 38 seasons to win a game as a last seed Thursday night with an 84-62 upset of Marshall.
by CNB