ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601220100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: STATE
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Bernard Hopkins scored 22 points, and Virginia Commonwealth pulled away from Richmond in the second half Saturday for a 79-51 victory at the Richmond Coliseum, marking the Spiders' eighth consecutive loss.
The Rams (12-7, 5-1 Colonial Athletic Association) never trailed and led 32-24 at the half. After Richmond's Rick Edwards hit a basket with 15:01 remaining, the Spiders (4-11, 0-5) trailed 41-33. Then the Richmond offense went sour.
The Rams' defense held Richmond to one field goal over the next 5:01 for a 15-3 run and a 56-36 lead with 10:00 remaining. The Spiders never closed the gap.
George Byrd had 12 points, 11 boards and four blocks for the Rams. It was Hopkins' third consecutive game scoring 20 points or more.
Jonathan Baker had 13 points for Richmond and Edwards added 12.
The Rams forced 21 turnovers, blocked six shots and held a 43-37 rebounding advantage, which included 20 offensive boards.
In other state games:
James Madison 80, George Mason 72: In Harrisonburg, Charles Lott scored a career-high 25 points, including seven in a crucial second-half run, as the Dukes beat the Patriots to snap a four-game losing streak.
James Madison (5-11, 1-4 CAA) led 37-34 at the half and never trailed after that. Lott triggered a 14-4 run with a pair of free throws with 10:00 remaining. He added a jumper and a 3-pointer as James Madison took a 64-50 lead with 6:14 left.
George Mason (6-9, 1-4) cut the lead to 70-64 on a 3-pointer by Mike Virtue with 2:06 left, but could draw no closer.
Darren McLinton, who leads the CAA in scoring averaging 22.2 points, had 22 points and six assists for the Dukes.
George Redd led George Mason with 16 points.
UNC-Wilmington 67, William & Mary 54: In Wilmington, N.C., Mark Byington of Salem scored 18 points, 12 on 3-pointers, to lead the Seahawks over the Tribe in a CAA game.
With William & Mary (6-8, 2-3) holding a 35-31 edge at 14:54, the Seahawks reeled off a 20-1 run to break the game open. Byington scored eight points in the run, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Bill Mayew had 12 points for UNCW (7-9, 5-1 CAA).
Carl Parker was the only William & Mary player to score in double figures with 11.
East Carolina 72, Old Dominion 67: In Greenville, N.C., Roanoke's Tim Basham scored 17 points to lead the Pirates over the Monarchs in a CAA game.
East Carolina (10-4, 3-2) shot 50 percent in the first half and made 4 of 7 3-point attempts to take a 36-26 halftime lead.
Old Dominion (8-9, 3-2) trimmed the Pirate lead to 68-67 with 23 seconds left when Brian Dunlap converted a three-point play after being fouled by Othello Meadows. Basham and Jonathan Kerner helped put the game out of reach as they each converted two free throws in the game's waning seconds.
Joe Bunn scored 17 points for the Monarchs.
Liberty 81, Charleston Southern 75, OT: In Charleston, S.C., Peter Aluma had 24 points and Larry Jackson had 21 as the Flames withstood a Buccaneers comeback for a Big South Conference victory.
Jackson's 3-pointer 19 seconds into overtime gave Liberty (8-6, 2-2) a 74-73 lead and the Flames scored seven of the game's final nine points.
Brett Larrick tied the game for the Buccaneers (8-8, 3-1) with 11 seconds left in regulation. T.L. Latson, who led Charleston with 25 points and 13 rebounds, hit two free throws just into the extra period for the Bucs' last lead at 73-71.
Frostburg State 89, Ferrum 63: The Bobcats shot 60 percent and outrebounded the Panthers 38-26 to cruise to a non-conference victory in Ferrum.
Damon Stevenson had 19 points to lead Frostburg State (5-8). Peter Craig scored 18, Kelvin Clayton 16 and Tom Shaffer 13.
Tony Meredith scored 21 points and Marcus Toney (Magna Vista) had 16 for Ferrum (5-8). The Panthers hit only 41 percent of their shots and were 4-for-20 from 3-point range.
Bridgewater 90, Washington and Lee 65: The Eagles broke out early and routed the Generals in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference matchup in Bridgewater.
Eddie Bentley led Bridgewater (13-5 overall, 9-3 ODAC) with 19 points. Chad Sowers added 15 for the Eagles. Cam Dyer led Washington and Lee (2-14, 2-8) with 26 points and nine rebounds in only 31 minutes of action.
Manhattan 98, Hampton U. 64: In Hampton, Heshimu Evans scored 21 points to lead three other Jaspers in double figures in a victory over the Pirates.
Manhattan (8-7) shot 68 percent from the floor while holding Hampton (4-13) to 39 percent, including only 36 percent in the second half.
Justin Phoenix scored 16 points for Manhattan.
JaFonde Williams led Hampton with 20 points.
Va. Western 125, ECPI 62: At Virginia Western, Keith Agee scored 30 points, including four 3-pointers, and Akil Majied added 23 as the Blue Stars (4-3) kept ECPI winless.
Ronnie Simmons scored 20 points to lead ECPI (0-4).
In other games involving Virginia teams: Scott Christian scored 23 points and Jason Light (Floyd County) added 21 to lead Emory & Henry (9-5, 5-4) to a 94-81 ODAC victory over Hampden-Sydney (8-7, 3-6) in Emory.
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