ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
``We haven't played really well lately, and we haven't been getting a lot of production from our seniors. Today the seniors really stepped up for us.''
Radford coach Ron Bradley said VMI presented problems with its defensive pressure.
``They were really aggressive in their half-court defense,'' Bradley said. ``They forced some turnovers with their hustle. Then on top of that we didn't shoot the ball well.''
The Keydets (2-2) led 76-61 with 10:39 left in the game before the Highlanders (2-1) went on a 16-6 run, cutting their deficit to five points with 7:31 remaining.
The teams then traded baskets over the next 3:10, until a 3-point goal from the top of the key by Highlanders guard Marquiz Williamson pulled Radford to 90-88.
With 2:38 remaining and the Keydets leading 94-92, Highlanders forward Jason Lansdown made the front end of a two-shot foul to put Radford one point behind.
That was as close as the Highlanders got. VMI's Lawrence Gullette and Bryan Taueg sank jump shots the next two trips down the floor, giving the Keydets a five-point lead with 1:30 remaining.
The game then turned into a VMI free-throw clinic as Radford was forced to foul. The Keydets made 12 of 14 free throws down the stretch to secure its victory.
``We did a great job with our free-throw shooting at the end of the game,'' Bellairs said. ``I feel good anytime we're at the end of a game and Bobby Prince is on the line for us.''
Prince, a former Lord Botetourt standout, made 9 of 10 free throws in the final 1:01 and was 14-of-16 for the game.
``That's been my job on this team, to make free throws at the end of games,'' Prince said. ``I enjoy having the ball at the end of a close game.''
Despite VMI's reputation as a team that relies on its success from beyond the 3-point arc, it was success from the charity stripe that decided this game.
The Keydets made 37 of 51 free throws. The Highlanders made 20 fewer, converting 17-of-21.
The teams combined for a Cameron Hall record 213 points, eclipsing the previous mark of 201 set in 1983 against Marshall.
VMI's 110 points were the most given up by Radford since a 114-76 loss to Clemson in 1989.
Six VMI and five Radford players scored in double figures. Gullette led all scorers with 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field. Anthony Walker paced Radford with 25 points.
``It's really good for us when we get five or six guys scoring like that,'' Bellairs said. ``The other team has to play us straight up man-to-man, and can't just concentrate on stopping one guy.''
The Keydets converted 49.3 percent (34-of-69) of their shots from the field, but it was Radford's poor first-half showing that allowed VMI to build its halftime cushion.
The Highlanders made just 14 of 39 shots (35.9 percent) in the first 20 minutes, including just one of nine from beyond the arc.
VMI, which trailed only once (at 2-1), went on a 16-5 run in the first half to take a 33-21 lead, holding Radford to only one field goal during the 3:13 stretch.
``We knew that Radford had a really good team, and we were going to have to play really well,'' Gullette said. ``We played good defense in the first half, and we were able to get out to an early lead.''
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB