ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
THE KEYDETS defeat Western Carolina 90-73 to secure their first winning season since 1984-85.
Bart Bellairs has a poster on the wall in his VMI basketball office that reads, ``You miss 100 percent of the 3-pointers you don't take.''
On Wednesday night against Western Carolina, the coach's Keydets made sure to take 31. They hit a season-high 13 and dispatched the Catamounts 90-73 at Cameron Hall.
``Coach lets Bobby [Prince] get the ball to us and he gives us all the confidence in the world to let it go,'' said VMI guard Maurice Spencer, a former Martinsville High School standout.
The Keydets' play guaranteed them their first winning season since 1984-85. VMI is 14-7 overall and 7-3 in the Southern Conference's North Division.
The Keydets have won six consecutive games for the first time since 1977-78 and are undefeated at home this season. Bellairs said a perfect home record is one of the team's goals. Only two tests remain: Marshall on Saturday and league-leader Davidson on Monday.
``I'm happy with the record, but we're not shooting for that,'' Bellairs said. ``I'm a purist. If we play to the best of our ability, I'm happy with the results.''
It took ability and smarts to turn back the Catamounts (10-12, 6-4), winners of four straight entering the game. But it also took some serious concentration. VMI played this game and will go the rest of the way without a very important player - freshman guard Jason Bell.
Bell left school Wednesday to attend to family concerns. He is not expected to return to VMI, but is planning to look at other schools closer to his Dale City home.
``After talking with Jason, we decided it was best if he would be with his family,'' Bellairs said.
Bell was averaging 8.2 points and 14.8 minutes per game. To account for Bell's absence, VMI called on senior Howard Byrd, who provided one assist, one rebound and some tough defense.
Bell's spot on the bench was occupied by Jeremy Obenchain, a freshman from William Byrd High School and junior varsity player for the Keydets.
``If you watched us play,'' Bellairs said, ``you would not even notice we were missing a player.''
Western Carolina coach Phil Hopkins, formerly a Radford assistant under Roanoke native Joe Davis, wished VMI was missing a few more players; or at least a few more 3-pointers.
The Keydets hit eight of 16 in the first half and five of 15 in the second. Six players connected from long range, led by Bryan Taueg, Lawrence Gullette and Brent Conley, who each had three. Conley led VMI with 20 points, Gullette had 15 and Taueg, breaking out of a long slump, had 13.
Southern Conference scoring leader Anquell McCollum (game-high 29 points) and guard Joe Stafford combined for seven of the Catamounts' nine 3-pointers.
Western Carolina, however, needed a few more.
``The 3s you hit in the beginning of the game are just as important as the ones you hit in the middle and the end,'' Prince said.
Especially when they come by the baker's dozen.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB