Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
But for VMI, it was the same old result.
Marshall used a school-record 17 3-pointers to send the Keydets to their ninth straight loss, 112-87 in a matchup of first-year head coaches.
Marshall also tied the Southern Conference record for 3-pointers in a game. VMI set the record in 1992 against Shenandoah.
The Thundering Herd was 40-of-77 from the field (52 percent) and 17-of-35 on 3-point attempts.
``Whoever the shooting coach is for Marshall - they should double their salary,'' said Bart Bellairs, VMI's coach.
``They outhustled us. They're in better physical shape than we are. [Marshall coach] Billy [Donovan] has done a great job getting them to play together, and they have a lot of seniors that want it.''
Seven players scored in double figures for Marshall (10-3 overall, 2-0 Southern), led by Shawn Moore with 23. Moore, a senior forward, also registered 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.
``I'm disappointed in the way we played. They broke us down,'' Bellairs said. ``They ran a lot of back picks, and we didn't switch. We just have to work harder on individual defense.
``It's probably my fault. We've probably spent too much time on our offensive scheme. ... We haven't put the emphasis on defense we need to.''
Malik Hightower scored 21 points for the Herd, followed by Troy Gray (16), Doug Schieppe (15), Tink Brown (13), Curtis Raymond (12) and Thad Bonapart (10).
It was the sixth time this season an opponent had scored 100 or more points against the Keydets (2-9, 0-2). Marshall missed the Cameron Hall record for points scored in a game by one.
VMI, which is allowing opponents an average of 99 points per game, got 21 points and 12 rebounds from junior forward Lester Johnson. Freshman guard Brian Taueg, who had scored 30 points in 11 games, came off the bench to add 23 points, including four 3-pointers.
VMI had averaged 33 3-point attempts per game but was limited to 7 on 19 attempts Monday.
``The way they played makes it very tough,'' Donovan said. ``When a team is averaging [33] 3-point shots a game, you have to really worry about defending the 3-point line. They like to shoot from out there, but if you play them too tight, they have the ability to go around you and drive to the basket.
``The first half was so crucial for us; making 12 3s put us in great shape.''
The Keydets trailed 37-30 with six minutes remaining in the first half, but were buried under four straight 3-pointers by Marshall, including two by Schieppe.
The Herd led 57-43 at halftime and used an early run in the second half to stake its lead to 24 points, 77-53, with 11 minutes, 49 seconds to play.
During the run, Donovan was assessed a technical foul for arguing a call, prompting one Marshall fan in the crowd of 2,116 to hurl a hot dog at official Mike Costabil.
The incident didn't deter Marshall, which reeled off seven consecutive points, including a monster dunk by Gray, to make it 68-52.
VMI's Johnson interrupted long enough for a free throw before the Herd converted consecutive 3-pointers by Gray and Schieppe to make it 74-53. The Keydets never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
VMI struggled from the free throw line, making 18 of 31 attempts (58 percent). From the floor, the Keydets were 31-of-72 (43 percent).
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB