Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Starters took a back seat Monday night at Cameron Hall.
Reserves accounted for 68 percent of the scoring as East Tennessee State handed VMI its 11th consecutive loss, 89-69 in a Southern Conference basketball game.
VMI's starters combined for 23 points and the Buccaneers' five managed 27.
Reserve Tony Patterson, a 6-foot-9 senior center, had a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes of play for East Tennessee State, which won its third in a row. A total of four Bucs scored in double figures, including reserve guard Robert Doggett, who had 20 points to go with six assists and six rebounds.
VMI (2-11 overall, 0-4 Southern) trailed 40-28 at halftime, but kept it interesting in the second half with 3-pointers, including three by freshman Brian Taueg. The reserve guard scored a team-high 17 points, but the Bucs (7-9, 3-1) used a 16-4 run to put away the Keydets.
``I don't know what happened, to be honest,'' said VMI coach Bart Bellairs, who still is seeking a Southern Conference victory. ``It could be that we're tired. ... We're having trouble with consistency. That's our biggest thing.
``It just seems like every game it's something, either free throws or boxing out. Tonight I thought it was poor help-side defense.''
The Keydets took their only lead of the game 7-6 on a basket by Larry Osborne underneath with barely three minutes gone in the game. But for the remainder of the first half, VMI was almost completely shut down inside.
Starting forward Lawrence Gullette had three points in the first half, and fellow forward Warren Johnson and center Lester Johnson were scoreless as the Bucs built an 18-point point lead.
The Keydets cut their deficit to 10 points early in the second half on a jumper by Warren Johnson that made it 41-31. But East Tennessee State went on its big run, getting nine points from Patterson in a span of 31/2 minutes.
Senior guard Brian Woolsey led the VMI starters with seven points. Gullette, who averages a team-high 17.7, was held to five points. Sophomore forward B.J. Grinage scored a season-high 12 points off the bench.
Corrie Johnson added 12 points and Randy Dodson 10 for the Bucs, who held a 46-35 rebounding advantage.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB