Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511210036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Led by senior forward Ryan Vickers' 23 second-half points, Oglethorpe overpowered Ferrum 97-83 in the first game of the Salem Bank & Trust Tip Off Tournament at Roanoke College.
Oglethorpe advances to the championship game at 3 p.m. today, when it will play Roanoke College, a 95-69 winner over Elizabethtown.
A season-opening loss is a rarity for Ferrum; the last time it happened was 1989. Panthers coach Bill Pullen has dropped only two openers since coming to Ferrum in 1985.
"This was the most disappointing loss in my memory,'' Pullen said. "It was sad; it was sorry. What can you say beyond that?''
While Pullen felt his team shot poorly (33 percent from the field), and was not mentally prepared, Vickers' performance was a major factor in the game's outcome.
The only returning starter from last year's 18-8 club, the 6-foot-4 Vickers averaged 11 points per game as a junior. Saturday, he finished with 33 points and 22 rebounds and dominated the game inside and out.
Vickers made 10 of 14 field-goal attempts, including five of six from 3-point range. He converted eight of 10 free throws, played the last five minutes with four fouls, and committed just one turnover in 36 minutes of play.
Vickers' statistics overshadowed a strong effort from Ferrum's Michael Hunter, who scored 29 points, including 10 straight in a two-minute span late in the game.
Marcus Toney and Tony Meredith scored 17 and 16 points, respectively, for Ferrum.
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB