ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602260099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BOONE, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Maurice Spencer scored 17 points, leading five VMI scorers in double figures Saturday, as the Keydets held off a late rally and defeated Appalachian State 85-75.
VMI (16-9 overall, 9-4 Southern Conference) used 55 percent field-goal shooting in the first half to take a 28-19 advantage over the Mountaineers. Lawrence Gullette scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds as the Keydets took a 40-32 led into the locker room.
After the intermission, the Keydets went up by 14 points at 52-38 with 14:01 remaining. Appalachian State's Kareem Livingston scored 12 of his game-high 21 points the rest of the way and pulled the Mountaineers (7-18, 3-10) to 79-75 with 28 seconds to go, but they would get no closer.
``We came out with great intensity at the beginning of the game,'' VMI coach Bart Bellairs said. ``Then we got complacent a little bit.''
Other VMI players in double figures were Brent Conley with 14, Lester Johnson with 12, and Gullette and Bryan Taueg each with 11.
``We had great cuts out of our motion offense, and that got us some easy baskets,'' Bellairs said. ``Bryan Taueg hit some 3s, and [point guard] Bobby Prince did a good job working the back-door cuts.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB