ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603040123
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
TYPE: SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
McCollum, who made two free throws with 16.5 seconds to clinch the win, became the 10th player in tournament history to score at least 40 points - one day after going 0-for-9 from 3-point range and scoring just 16.
The Keydets, who set tournament records with 17 of 43 3-pointers, staged a furious second-half rally after they trailed by as many as 18 twice in the first half.
But after VMI (18-10) cut the score to 79-78 with 6:23 left, McCollum, who made 15 of 22 shots, took over down the stretch. The nation's sixth leading scorer had 11 points over the final 3:59 as Western Carolina returned to the title game for the second straight time - its first such feat after 19 years in the Southern Conference.
Three VMI players scored 20 or more points, with Maurice Spencer (Martinsville) getting 22 and Lawrence Gullette and Brent Conley adding 20 each.
In the other semifinal:
Davidson 92, Marshall 77: The Wildcats won their 19th straight game, running their half-court offense to near perfection in the second half to down the Thundering Herd.
Davidson (25-3), which has won 22 of 23 and has the nation's third longest winning streak, shoots for its first league title and NCAA Tournament bid in a decade today. The Wildcats made 20 of 31 second-half shots and are now 16-0 in league games this season.
The Wildcats were able to win despite leading scorer Brandon Williams missing much of the second half with foul trouble. Williams who scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half, fouled out with 5:51 left and Davidson leading 68-58.
Marshall (17-11) shot 36.9 percent, its first time under 40 percent since hitting 35.7 percent in a 49-point home loss to the Wildcats on Jan. 27. The Thundering Herd also turned over the ball 21 times.
The Wildcats made only 33.3 percent of their shots in the first half, but were able to exploit Marshall's zone in the second half for 15 layups and two dunk. Only a 12-footer by Chris Alpert early in the second half prevented Davidson from a clean sweep of easy buckets inside the lane in the first 15 minutes of the period.
Alpert scored seven points in the first 7:08 of the second half to give Davidson a 10-point cushion. Then, 6-foot-9 Quinn Harwood cleaned up on the inside, hitting 11 of 15 shots for 23 points. All nine of his second-half baskets were layups or dunks.
Marshall, led by Jason Williams' 22 points, never got closer than six after the Wildcats went up by 10.
There were seven ties and six lead changes in a closely contested first half. Davidson missed 10 straight shots at one point and 15 of its first 20, but was able to manage a 35-35 halftime tie thanks to 12 Marshall turnovers.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB