ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512180077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: STATE
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
Florida International's Leland Johnson scored five of his 18 points and grabbed a key rebound in the final 1:14 as the Golden Panthers defeated Liberty 92-89 Saturday in Miami.
Dedric Taylor led all scorers with 31 points for Florida International, sinking a school-record seven 3-point baskets.
Marcus White and Peter Aluma led the Flames (4-3) with 22 and 21 points respectively.
With five ties and seven lead changes, it was still anyone's game when Aluma hit a short jumper to put the Flames up 89-87 with 1:49 to play.
But on FIU's next possession, Johnson hit a short jumper, evening the score at 89, and was fouled. His free throw put the Golden Panthers up by a point with 1:14 to play.
With a chance to recapture the lead, Liberty's Erik Sorensen missed from short range and Johnson rebounded.
In other games:
Bowling Green 88, James Madison 72: Shane Komives scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, helping the Falcons rally to a victory over the Dukes.
Bowling Green (5-3) trailed 38-33 at the half but capitalized on James Madison's cold shooting in the second half. The Dukes (3-4) hit 58 percent of their shots from the field in the first half but fell to 38 percent in the second.
Point guard Darren McLinton was 8-for-14 on 3-pointers and finished with 34 points for James Madison.
Rhode Island 68, Virginia Commonwealth 63: Michael Andersen scored 17 points, including four key free throws in the final minutes, as Rhode Island defeated VCU in Providence, R.I.
Virginia Commonwealth's Bernard Hopkins had a game-high 18 points and also snared 12 rebounds before fouling out with 2:21 remaining.
George Mason 113, W.Va. Tech 110: Curtis McCants made two free throws with 1:22 remaining to snap a 104-104 tie as the Patriots fought off a late challenge to beat Division II West Virginia Tech.
Christopher Newport 69, Chowan 54: Terry Thomas scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had three blocks as the Captains beat Chowan.
Christopher Newport (8-1) also got 14 points from Terry Powell and 11 from Jeff McLean. Andre Bolton had 10 assists.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB