ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 TAG: 9701140087
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
Without its leaders in points, rebounds and assists, VMI did the only thing it couldn't be expected to do Monday night.
It won.
The Keydets beat a Division I opponent for only the second time this season, downing Georgia Southern 75-61 at Cameron Hall. (Box score in Scoreboard. B4)
Minus sophomores Brent Conley and Andre Quarles, their top assist man, the 11 remaining Keydets concentrated on assisting each other.
``It's not about numbers," said Bart Bellairs, VMI's coach.
Not anymore. But on this night, the numbers favored the Keydets. Previously winless in the Southern Conference, VMI went on a 22-5 run in the first half to get the edge on the much-improved Eagles. VMI forged a 37-20 halftime lead by doing something it hasn't done at all lately - grabbing offensive rebounds. The Keydets in the first half actually outrebounded Georgia Southern on the offensive end 12-10. This without Conley, their leading rebounder.
``We worked our tails off tonight," said 6-foot-1 guard Jason Bell, who had four offensive rebounds and five of VMI's 14 steals.
Bell just came back from a one-semester academic suspension. He and the rest of the Keydets (5-9 overall, 1-2 Southern Conference) looked and played like there was no place they would rather be than out on that slick, super-hard floor.
Bellairs said he thought the team actually was more relaxed in the wake of the personnel losses. Perhaps then, he wasn't surprised at what happened when Georgia Southern (5-9, 1-2) closed to 60-49 with 7:01 left.
Martinsville's Maurice Spencer, emerging from a period of ineffectiveness caused by a strained tendon in his right knee, hit a baseline jumper and followed that with a quick 3-pointer. The next time VMI got the ball, he flashed a pass out to former Cave Spring High School swingman Matt Matheny in a corner. Matheny, who seemed to be on the court much more than his listed eight minutes, sank a 3-pointer for a 68-51 Keydets lead with 5:32 left.
``Mo set me up beautifully," Matheny said.
Junior guard Darryl Faulkner, having ceded the stealing responsibilities to Bell for the night, concentrated on assisting his teammates on offense. He had a team-high six to go with his 15 points. Spencer had three assists and 12 points.
``That was our best team effort," Bellairs said. ``I thought they were looking out for each other."
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB