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Dec. 4, 2000
By KIA SHANT’E BREAUX
Associated Press Writer
LEXINGTON, Va. – Roger Mason scored 23 points and Adam Hall added 19Monday night to lead No. 16 Virginia to a 89-70 victory over Virginia MilitaryInstitute.
Chris Williams also scored 16 for the Cavaliers (5-0), who are off to theirbest start since winning their first 11 games in 1992-93.
Eric Mann had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Keydets (1-4), who werestymied by a tough Virginia man-to-man defense that forced 22 turnovers.
Virginia went on a 24-6 run capped by a 3-pointer from Williams to pullahead 83-66 with five minutes left to play.
VMI, trailing 46-34 at halftime, scored the first five points of the secondhalf on a 3-pointer and jumper by Radee Skipworth. But VMI would get no closerafter Virginia answered with back-to-back baskets by Donald Hand and Mason tomake it 50-39.
Skipworth, the Keydets’ leading scorer with an average of 12.5 points pergame, missed most of the first half after hurting his right knee 30 secondsinto the game. He returned after halftime and finished with 13 points. JeremyHarper added 12 points for VMI, while Nick Richardson had 11 and a game-high 12rebounds.
The Cavaliers have a 97-15 lead in their series with the Keydets. Virginiabeat VMI 98-57 last season in Charlottesville.
VMI has not beaten Virginia since 1964 when it pulled off a 95-75 victory inLexington. Virginia’s 97 wins over VMI by far are the most over any opponent.