Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
Ultimately, though, it boiled down to the stodgy discipline of free-throw shooting.
The Highlanders made 15 in a row at one point and 24 of their last 30 to hold off the Keydets for a 99-93 victory Saturday night at the Dedmon Center.
``They hit the tough free throws down the stretch and that was the difference in the game,'' VMI forward Lawrence Gullette said. ``It seemed like they couldn't miss.''
Radford (4-2) had only two field goal attempts in the last 5 minutes, 9 seconds. Try as they might, the Keydets couldn't scratch back from a nine-point deficit.
Radford hit season highs with 31 free throws made and 41 attempted. The Highlanders went 28-for-35 in the second half.
Anthony Walker led the Highlanders with 31 points, 16 in the second half. Walker hit seven of his last 10 free throws and finished 11-for-14.
``I'd only taken two before this game,'' he said. ``But everybody hit the throws to secure the win and that's a good sign for us.''
Also bellying up to the line with good results was freshman Chibi Johnson, who bottomed out seven of eight, and Antoine Dalton and Jason Lansdown, who were a composite 11-for-14.
``They were quicker than us at nearly every position,'' Radford coach Ron Bradley said. `` ... Things were pretty simple: We had to pass the ball and get layups. I told the guys before the game that we could not win playing at their tempo.''
VMI's pace is something that not many can keep up with. The Keydets (2-3) fired up a Dedmon Center record 32 3-point attempts, making 10. Gullette took 11 of them, making two on the way to 10 points.
He was one of five double-digit scorers for VMI, the leader being forward Lester Johnson, who made a school-record 11 of 11 shots. From the stripe, Johnson was only 5-for-11.
``Whoever taught Lester Johnson to shoot free throws is going to be fired,'' said Bart Bellairs, the Keydets' first-year head coach. ""But whoever taught him to shoot field goals is going to get a raise.''
Warren Johnson and Aron Buss had 13 points each for VMI and former All-Timesland point guard Bobby Prince from Lord Botetourt just missed a triple double with 11 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.
Three players - Walker, center Antoine Dalton, and guard Jason Lansdown - carried Radford. Dalton scored 26 points and hauled in five rebounds. Walker had eight assists. Lansdown weighed in with 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Lansdown might have set a career high for ball-handling.
``Just trying to take some pressure off my roommate [Walker],'' he said.
Walker, who dearly loves this sort of drag racer of a game, made six of his first seven shots and finished 8-for-12, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Radford ran off to a 27-17 lead but VMI closed rapidly in the last 2:57 of the first half by embarking on a 12-4 run with Johnson scoring six and Mike Spinelli coming off the bench to score all four of his first-half points.
VMI trailed 42-39 at the half before going up 64-56 early on a Gullette layup with 12:55 left. But Radford battled back after that behind its big three.
``You can't say enough about Anthony Walker and Antoine Dalton,'' Bellairs said. ``I don't think they have ever run that hard and for them to come back with that effort is incredible ... We played unbelievably hard. You can't yell too much at guys who are laying out on the floor. We just have to get a little smarter.''
The Keydets controlled the backboards 44-35 with 18 of the caroms coming at the offensive end. Radford had just six offensive rebounds.
Johnson had seven rebounds and Gullette six but the leader was the point guard, Prince. The junior had 11 - the team high for the year - Nov. 29 against Centenary (N.J.).
Radford was paced by Chris Harvey with nine rebounds, but he continued to struggle with his shooting, going 2-for-9 for five points.
``We have a good shooting club,'' Bradley said. ``But we have to go back to the basics as far as shot selection goes.''
VMI (93)
Gullette 4-16 0-0 10, Lester 11-11 5-11 27, Osborne 0-0 0-0 0, Spencer 2-4 2-2 7, Prince 4-11 0-1 11, Spinelli 1-2 2-2 4, L. Johnson 6-14 0-2 13, Bell 0-3 3-4 3, Buss 5-10 0-0 13, Byrd 0-1 0-0 0, Woolsey 0-2 5-5 5, Grinage 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 33-75 17-27 93.
RADFORD (99)
C. Johnson 1-4 7-8 9, Harvey 2-9 1-3 5, Dalton 10-13 6-8 26, Walker 8-12 11-14 31, Lansdown 5-13 5-6 16, Bowens 0-1 0-0 0, Wells 0-0 0-0 0, Reed 1-1 0-0 3, Weddle 1-1 1-2 3, Robinson 3-4 0-0 6. Totals: 31-58 31-41 99.
VMI 39--54-93
Radford 42--57-99
Halftime: 42-39, Radford. Three-point goals: VMI 10-32 (Buss 3-7, Prince 3-8, Gullette 2-11, Spencer 1-1, L. Johnson 1-4, Woolsey 0-1), Radford 6-13 (Walker 4-6, Reed 1-1, Lansdown 1-4, C. Johnson 0-1, Harvey 0-1). Rebounds: VMI 44 (Prince 9), Radford 35 Harvey 9). Turnovers: VMI 22 (Gullette 4, Prince 4), Radford 20 (three players with four). Assists: VMI 17 (Prince 10), Radford 21 (Walker 8). Steals: VMI 6 Prince 2), Radford 10 (four players with two). Team fouls: VMI 29, Radford 21. Fouled out: L. Johnson. Technicals: None. Officials: Bryan Kersey, Mike Constabile, Donnie Harrison. A-2,100.
by CNB