ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601220039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
The death of a VMI freshman from meningococcemia, a rare disease caused by a form of bacteria, has prompted school officials to postpone the Keydets' Southern Conference basketball game today against Davidson.
Scott W. Hickey, a first-year student from Staunton, died at approximately 2 p.m. Friday at Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington.
Hickey, a student manager for the VMI football team, became ill Thursday night and was treated for flu-like symptoms at the VMI hospital, but elected to spend the night in the barracks. He returned to the VMI hospital Friday morning and was sent to the Stonewall Jackson emergency room after being examined. He died at the hospital.
All those who came in close contact with Hickey and might have contracted the disease are being treated with antibiotics.
``We decided not to take any chances and postponed the game,'' said Wade Branner, a VMI spokesman.
The game has not yet been rescheduled, but the first potential makeup date mentioned was Jan.31
VMI's next scheduled game is 7 p.m. Monday at East Tennessee State.
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