ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 29, 1996 TAG: 9612310051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: STATE
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
Chatney Howard scored 25 points to lead James Madison past Towson State 83-75 on Saturday night in a men's basketball game in Towson, Md.
With less than nine minutes remaining, the Dukes (5-3) went on a 14-6 run that put them ahead 66-50, the biggest lead of the night.
Ralph Biggs led the offense for the Tigers (3-6) with 22 points and Michael Keyes added 14.
Lamont Boozer added 16 points for JMU.
In other men's games involving Virginia teams:
Alabama-Birmingham 57, William and Mary 55: Damon Cobb sank a six-foot jump shot with 1:25 remaining as the Blazers (3-5) edged the Tribe (9-4) in the consolation game of the Tribune Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
William and Mary squandered a pair of opportunities to regain the lead in the final 10 seconds. Sam Steen was called for traveling while driving toward the basket with 5.3 seconds remaining, and Terence Jennings' 3-pointer with one second left bounced off the front of the rim.
Iona 71, Richmond 66: Mindaugas Timinskas scored 24 points, including seven of the Gaels' last nine, as Iona (8-3) rallied for a victory over the Spiders (3-4) in the championship game of the Iona-Pepsi Classic in New Rochelle, N.Y.
Jarod Stevenson scored 19 points for Richmond.
Hampton 60, Harvard 57: Efrem Carter scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute, to lead the Pirates (1-8) past the Crimson (6-5) in the consolation game of the UNO Christmas Classic in New Orleans.
Women
No.10 Virginia 106, Alabama State 21: DeMya Walker outscored Alabama State as the Cavaliers crushed the Hornets in the first round of the Florida International Holiday Classic tournament in Miami.
Virginia (7-2) limited Alabama State (1-7) to one field goal in the first half and went to the locker room leading 52-7. The Cavaliers opened the game with a 28-3 run and held the Hornets to 1-of-26 (3.8 percent) field-goal shooting in the first half. The 85-point margin of victory was the largest in UVa history.
The Cavaliers will play Florida International, a 78-39 winner Saturday over Marist, in today's championship game.
Maryland 83, Radford 44: Tiffany Brown scored 11 of her game-high 14 points in the first half as the Terrapins built a 22-point lead, and Maryland (8-1) went on to a victory over the Highlanders (2-8) in the first round of the Dial Soap Classic in College Park, Md.
Beth Beckett led Radford with 13 points and Kim Cruise (Pulaski County) grabbed nine rebounds The Highlanders will meet Southwest Texas, which dropped a 68-65 decision to San Diego State, in the consolation game at 5 p.m. today.
Note
TECH WOMEN HOME FOR CLASSIC: The Virginia Tech women will seek their second consecutive Diamond Club Classic title and fourth in five years when they take on Cornell at 5 p.m. today at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (2-5) will be without starting guard Amy Wetzel against Cornell (3-3) and for the next six weeks of action. Wetzel, averaging 11.8 points per game, has a stress fracture in her left foot.
In today's first game, South Carolina (5-2) meets Loyola (Md.) (2-7) at 3 p.m. The consolation game is 5 p.m. Monday, with the final to follow.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB