ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512110106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
In retrospect, VMI should have packed the rifles for its trip to Virginia Tech.
At least then the Keydets might have had at least a shot at surviving the ambush they ran into Saturday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum.
In a physically played game that at times resembled a take from ``Mortal Kombat,'' the weapon-filled Hokies put the big bazooka to outmanned VMI, blowing away the Keydets 99-67 before a crowd of 8,234.
While VMI coach Bart Bellairs will tell you there's no good time to play Tech this season, his Keydets couldn't have picked a worse time to visit Blacksburg. The 19th-ranked Hokies (3-0) weren't about to play lollygag for a second consecutive Saturday.
``We weren't about to have another William and Mary,'' said Tech senior forward Shawn Smith, referring to the Hokies' lackluster 71-66 victory in Williamsburg on Dec.2.
``From the time we got back, we heard preaching [from the coaches] the whole week. Coach [Bill Foster] was real upset about how bad we played last weekend. We just said, `We're going to come out and play the way the Hokies are capable.'''
Talk about a done deal.
Offensively, Tech shot a season-best 52.3 percent (34-of-65), including a season-high 13 3-pointers. Smith, who missed 15 of 18 shots against W&M, led four Hokies scorers in double figures with 25 points.
On the other end, Tech turned up the wick, too, outrebounding VMI 46-35 and forcing 21 turnovers.
Smith said the scare at W&M forced the Hokies to focus on VMI (3-3).
``Coach [Foster] has a saying: Fear none and respect all,'' Smith said. ``I don't think we really respected William and Mary. I think that's what it is. Sometimes, you get a little bit lazy and don't want to come out and play every night hard.
``But being ranked in the country now, we've got to come out every night and play hard. We've got [to] show teams we've earned the respect that we've got.''
The Keydets won't argue with Tech's credentials. Bellairs, whose club shot a season-low 33.3 percent (23-of-69) and trailed by as many as 40 at one point, was quick to hop on Tech's bandwagon.
``They're the best team we've played because they're big and they're athletic,'' said Bellairs, whose club's other two losses were by 26 to North Carolina State and Penn State.
``I think they're the best Virginia Tech team I've seen. They've got a good inside-outside game. They've got a great bench. Plus, there seem to be no big egos, which creates good chemistry.
``Not to put pressure on Bill, if this team gets hot at the end, they could make some noise in the NCAA [Tournament].''
The Keydets made a little noise for a while. It was an 18-18 game after 71/2 minutes before Tech's instant offense - forward David Jackson - entered the game. Jackson, his stroke in tune, scored 13 of Tech's next 15 points as the Hokies bolted ahead 33-20.
``I was glad to hit my first couple of shots because my jump shot hasn't been too good,'' said Jackson, who finished with 16 points, including 4-of-5 accuracy from 3-point range.
``We got it going again today. Last week, we let up and William and Mary got back in. We have to stay focused for 40 minutes, no matter who we're playing and get it done.''
It was done by halftime. Tech, shooting a blistering 60 percent, including 9-of-14 on 3-pointers, went to the locker room up 56-35, and left the Cassell floor to the Hokies' football team, which officially was presented its Big East Conference trophy.
With that lead-in, the Hokies and Keydets decided to play some football the second half. Players on both sides grew short-tempered as elbows flew and words passed.
Jackson and his brother, Jim, were called for technical fouls in a two-minute span.
``I guess that's the military life for you,'' David Jackson said. ``I remember at Fork Union we were kind of rough, too.''
``It did get real rugged,'' Smith said. ``Lot of elbows being thrown, lot of words being said between players. I feel it got out of control a little bit.''
Foster, whose club takes another week off before playing Georgia in Atlanta on Dec.16, tried to make light of the rough-and-tumble contest.
``All you ladies and gentlemen ought to rest easier,'' said Foster, opening his postgame remarks. ``Those guys grow up and we send 'em over there to defend the country they're going to do a hell of a job.
``They come to play. I assume if they take that same attitude across the big pond when we need 'em we're going to be in good shape.''
Damon Watlington added 17 points, and junior center Keefe Matthews came off the Tech bench for the second consecutive game and hit double figures (11).
Tech's Ace Custis was held to six points - his lowest total since the 1993-94 season - but collected a game-high 14 rebounds.
Maurice Spencer of Martinsville led the Keydets with 14 points. Lawrence Gullette and Blue Ridge's Bobby Prince had 11 each.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. VMI's Bobby Prince hangs onto the ballby CNBwhile being pressured by Tech's Keefe Matthews (left) and David
Jackson.