Men's Basketball VMIKeydets.com

Turnovers Beset Keydets In 80-56 Setback To Virginia Tech In Hoops

BLACKSBURG, VA. ? Bryant Matthews scored 26 points and led four Hokies in double figures scoring as Virginia Tech outgunned VMI 80-56 Wednesday night before 4,858 spectators at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.

VMI fell to 1-5 on the season while Virginia Tech moved to 4-3.

The Keydets were without the services of leading scorer Radee Skipworth, who sprained his left ankle in practice Sunday. Skipworth will miss at least two games and will not play Saturday when VMI entertains Eastern Mennonite University at Cameron Hall.

For the second straight game, the Keydets had just one double figures scorer in Levar Joseph, who pumped in a career-high 18 points while stroking four three pointers.

VMI led 12-8 with 15:57 left when freshman forward Matt Murrer hit a layup with 15:57 left. The game was tied for the final time when Richard Little canned a jumper off a feed by Joseph.

The Hokies, then switched to a half-court zone trap that fueled a 21-0 run induced by 10 VMI turnovers over a 10-minute stretch. VMI went scoreless from the 12:51 mark to 2:46 when Allmond stopped the bleeding with a layup.

Tech took a 44-23 lead at the break after generating 24 points off 16 VMI turnovers committed in the first half.

The closest VMI could come in the second half was 19 points (44-25) when Allmond scored to start the second half. But Tech answered with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to take its biggest lead, 29 points, when Markus Sailes scored to make it 54-25.

The Keydets employed a different starting lineup for the first time this year when Murrer started for the injured Skipworth, and Fred Roninson (7 points) started for Levar Joseph.

VMI will tip off against EMU Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Cameron Hall.
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