ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602130016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: STATE
SOURCE: fROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Bernard Hopkins dominated the second half Saturday with 18 points as Virginia Commonwealth broke open a close game and went on to defeat East Carolina 80-71 in Richmond.
The Rams (18-7, 11-1 Colonial Athletic Association) won their eighth straight game, their longest winning streak since an 11-game stretch in 1984-85.
With the Pirates (14-7, 7-5) leading 56-54 with 8:08 remaining, Hopkins scored eight consecutive points over the next 2:22 to give the Rams a 62-56 lead. The Pirates got no closer than five.
In addition to his 26 points, Hopkins had 12 rebounds, for his 15th double-double of the season.
Former Patrick Henry standout Tim Basham led the Pirates with 17 points, but was held without a field goal for the final 10:25.
In other state games:
Old Dominion 76, James Madison 72: Joe Bunn scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half as the Monarchs rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to beat the Dukes in Norfolk.
The Monarchs (13-11, 8-3 CAA) trailed 45-28 just before the half as James Madison (5-19, 1-10) shot 54 percent from the field.
Odell Hodge led the Monarchs with 18 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.
George Mason 98, Richmond 91: George Redd pumped in a career-high 26 points, including a key basket, and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Patriots held on in the closing minutes to defeat the Spiders in Fairfax.
The victory moves George Mason (10-12, 5-7 CAA) into sole possession of sixth place in the conference with four regular-season games remaining.
Richmond (7-15, 3-9) led twice in the opening four minutes before George Mason opened a pair of 10-point leads and led 44-37 at halftime.
Jarod Stevenson led Richmond with 25 points.
American 100, William and Mary 66: Freshman David Small led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds in just his second collegiate start as the Eagles put away the Tribe with a 20-4 run in the first half on the way to a CAA victory in Washington.
Four of the five starters scored in double figures for the Eagles (10-10 overall, 6-5), led by Thomas Treadwell with 18 points.
Jermaine Harmon led William and Mary with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Radford 92, Winthrop 82: The Highlanders scored 58 points in the second half to mar Winthrop's homecoming in Rock Hill, S.C.
The trio of Eric Bowens, Kevin Robinson and Jason Lansdown fueled a second-half surge to help Radford overcome a 12-point second-half deficit with 13:11 left in the game.
Bowens led all scorers with 19 while Robinson and Lansdown each finished with 17 points for the Highlanders (12-3, 6-5 Big South).
Ferrum 85, N.C. Wesleyan 73: Marcus Toney scored 26 points and Michael Hunter added 23 as the Panthers won a Dixie Conference game in Ferrum.
Rodney Ponzo added 15 points for Ferrum (9-10, 6-3).
In other action:
Jason Light (Floyd County) scored 21 points and Dytanyon Norman (Bassett) added 19, but Emory & Henry dropped an 82-81 decision to Virginia Wesleyan in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game in Norfolk.
The Wasps (14-8, 10-7) trailed by 10 at the half.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB