Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Keydets used a balanced attack and a slew of 3-pointers to pummel the Black Knights 91-67 before the largest crowd this season at Cameron Hall, 2,519.
VMI had four scorers in double figures and tied its season high with 14 3-pointers in the Keydets' first victory over the team once coached by Knight and Krzyzewski. The Black Knights had won the two previous meetings, 82-47 in 1970 and 59-53 in 1991.
Lawrence Gullette scored 17 points, 10 of them in the second half, to lead VMI. Warren Johnson added 15 points, Bryan Taueg 14 and Maurice Spencer 10. Spencer made four of six field-goal attempts (and both 3-point attempts) in 13 minutes of action.
But with all the scoring feats ...
``Our defense was a big key,'' VMI coach Bart Bellairs said. ``I'm really pleased with our progress.''
VMI is 7-4 at home this season and assured of its first winning season at Cameron since 1990-91. The Keydets close the regular season at home against Southern Conference foes Appalachian State (Saturday) and The Citadel (Monday).
Army guard Mark Lueking, the nation's ninth-leading scorer (24.8 points per game), led the Black Knights with 21 points but made only six of 18 field-goal attempts facing a double-teaming defense. Army shot 35 percent.
The Keydets' 24-point victory equaled its largest margin this season.
VMI (9-15) had lost 17 consecutive games to non-conference Division I opponents, dating to a 62-56 victory over Lafayette in December 1992.
Army (11-14) lost its fifth consecutive game and ninth in its past 11.
``I'm thrilled so many of our players came off the bench and played well,'' Bellairs said.
The Keydets played 12 players for at least seven minutes Wednesday, with Warren Johnson's 28 leading the team.
``People never believe me when I say what I want is for our team to play good basketball, and the wins and losses will take care of themselves,'' Bellairs said.
``But it's true. That's why I'm coaching even when the game is won, so that the system will get better and better.''
VMI's biggest lead was 28 points (85-57) and came when Gullette hit a jumper with 5 minutes, 6 seconds remaining.
As in Monday night's victory over Davidson, the Keydets took control early, leading 14-5 after five minutes. Gullette, Taueg and Bryan Woolsey hit 3-pointers in the quick start.
The Black Knights, a 70.4 percent free-throw shooting team, were 8-of-18 in the first half and the Keydets led 47-34 at halftime.
Army committed 16 turnovers in the first half to VMI's four. The Keydets could have had a bigger halftime lead, but scored only one point during a four-minute stretch.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB