Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1995                   TAG: 9511290076
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BACK-YARD FEUD PRODUCES TWICE AS MANY WINNERS

However, there were plenty of shots fired - and misfired - in the first hometown basketball meeting in history between VMI and Washington and Lee.

Unlike their infamous 1904 baseball game that became a riot, the only ammunition fired Tuesday night was a Wilson Jet. Unlike the day athletic relations between the neighbors soured, no stones were thrown.

However, Cameron Hall rocked with emotion and noise, as it rarely has, thanks to a crowd of 4,140, the second-largest in the building's 14-year history.

Not only was the atmosphere spirited. It also was a game for a half, too, until VMI ended its good-neighbor policy and bolted to a 100-62 victory.

It was an entertaining game on and off the freshly painted and varnished hardwood. There were a few audio and video darts hurled, appropriate for the first live WDBJ telecast in years.

From the courtside cadets, during warmups, came this yell: ``Hey, this ain't no lacrosse match.''

From W&L's corner of the arena hung a sign with bold letters, for WDBJ's parent network: ``Can't Beat our SATs.''

That's true, but the Keydets (1-1) took control when they finally started playing with their heads. Their game often is played beyond the arc, and sometimes too much so.

The first half was one of those occasions. The Generals, who obviously have a good hire in new coach Kevin Moore, defended deep, zoned, ran their offense with discipline and rebounded respectably but shot poorly in a close first half.

It was the great shots W&L was getting - and missing - that should have told the Keydets who they were playing. The Generals may have been the visitors, but they definitely were in the neighborhood.

The Keydets spend so much time outside offensively that they don't get close enough to smell the paint defensively. VMI needs to learn that ``post defense'' doesn't refer to keeping unwanted visitors out of the barracks.

It was only with offensive patience the Keydets finally ran away from W&L. The difference - as VMI often has experienced at the other end of the scoreboard - was athleticism, depth and superior talent.

It wasn't the final score that mattered, however. The big-game atmosphere that enveloped the first VMI-W&L hoops date since a 1941 Southern Conference tournament game is what Keydets coach Bart Bellairs wants in Cameron more often.

Bellairs and Moore - whose program will only improve - deserve credit for agreeing to play. Mike Walsh and Davis Babb, the athletic directors at W&L and VMI, respectively, get kudos for putting together a game that should have been played years ago.

It's also a game they should keep playing, because it isn't just the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization that will reap the benefits.

Both programs appear headed for improvement. Bellairs has some significant freshmen. If the Keydets continue to play other Old Dominion Athletic Conference schools from the state - as they have 133 times compared to one previous unscheduled W&L date - then why not the Generals?

In one half, when maybe the Generals even surprised themselves, Moore showed his program is willing to trade baskets with a Division I team, as his former Elmira College clubs did in recent years with St.Bonaventure, Canisius and Cornell.

It was a meaningful game to more than the teams on the floor, too.

It certainly would be wrong to say it was one-sided. It does take two to create a rivalry.