Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220250
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Medium
But try convincing VMI of that after Nichols made 13 of 17 shots, scored a career-high 29 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in James Madison's 82-67 college basketball victory Thursday night at the JMU Convocation Center.
"Chancellor Nichols was the difference, especially in the first half," said VMI coach Joe Cantafio. "What did he have 29 points? All of them on two-inch dunks. Physically, he's a Goliath. We don't have anybody who can match up with him."
Give VMI credit. No Keydet backed down from the burly (6-foot-8, 240-pound) transfer from Mississippi State, but neither could any stop him.
Lanky Jonathan Penn, who is generously listed at 6-4 and 175 pounds, got pushed around. Sophomore center Lewis Preston had the height, but yielded 38 pounds of beef.
Even petite freshman guard Sean Spriggs was willing to take a charge. Nichols almost stepped on Spriggs' head when he slammed home one of his seven dunks.
About the only time, VMI (10-15) contained Nichols was when he sat out the opening minutes as five of JMU's seven seniors started on `Seniors Night," and a five-minute stretch in the second half when he sat down with four fouls.
"He's very tough," said Penn, a Pulaski High alumnus who led VMI with 20 points. "When guys like that come to play, it's hard to stop them. All you can do is give it your best shot."
Nichols refused comment on his performance because the James Madison players said they voted as a team not to talk to the media for the remainder of the season. Speculation is that the Dukes (18-8) are unhappy about negative comments that have appeared concerning their performances this season.
As well as being physically overmatched, VMI can look to three stretches when the game was lost.
The Keydets scored just four points in the first seven minutes and trailed 17-6. But 3-pointers from Greg Fittz and Penn during a 10-2 run cut it to 19-14 with 10:09 left.
On came Nichols.
A driving dunk, a baseline Jumper and a stickback helped the Dukes go up 27-18. Kenny Brooks buried a 3-pointer, then Nichols stuffed again. He scored two more baskets, including an alley-oop dunk as Madison ran to a 41-22 halftime lead.
After Percy Covington made a 3-pointer to start the second half for VMI, Preston blocked Nichols, for his first miss after going 7-for-7 in the first half.
That sparked the Keydets, and they outscored JMU 18-9 to start the second half to pull to 50-40 with 12:34 left.
Nichols also picked up four fouls during that stretch.
VMI, however, failed on three opportunities to cut the lead further while Nichols sat on the bench.
He made them pay when he returned at the 7:01 mark with JMU leading 64-51.
Nichols immediately rebounded and followed in a Brooks miss. He made two free throws after Erek Perry put in two for VMI. Then after a Keydets turnover, he made a move off the baseline, spun into the lane and dunked over Preston to make it 70-53 with 5:53 left.
by CNB