NFL
MLB
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
WNBAV-M-I (0-1) Vs. Dartmouth (0-1)
GAME NOTES: The nation's top scoring team from last season goes back to the drawing board tonight, as the VMI Keydets battle the Dartmouth Big Green in the second round of the Air Force Classic at Clune Arena. On Friday night, the Keydets dropped their third straight season opener with a 104-97 setback to the Northern Colorado Bears. In 2006-07, the Keydets were the highest-scoring program in all of Division I basketball with 100.9 ppg, yet still finished with a record of only 14-19. As for the Big Green, they came up rather small in their meeting with Air Force later Friday evening as they fell in a 67-38 final to the host team. Even for Dartmouth, which tallied only 58.9 ppg a season ago when it posted a 9-18 mark, the scoring output was extremely low. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, this is the first-ever meeting.
Counting on the offense to carry them through just as they did last season, the Keydets quickly found out that it doesn't work that way against most opponents. After permitting Northern Colorado to shoot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half the squad watched helplessly as the Bears then converted an astounding 73.1 percent from the floor in the second, en route to the seven- point decision. Reggie Williams, who last season led the nation with his 28.1 ppg, was limited to 22 points as he missed all five of his three-point attempts. Chavis Holmes responded with a team-best 27 points before fouling out and twin brother Travis chipped in 10 points before he too took a seat on the bench. Christian Hunter contributed 14 points in a reserve role as the Keydets suffered 21 turnovers and were outscored at the free-throw line, 31-21.
Not only did the Big Green not get to the free-throw line a single time in the first half against a pressuring Air Force defense, Dartmouth ended up shooting just 6-of-24 from the floor in the frame. In the second half it didn't get much better with the Big Green shooting a meager 7-of-23 from the floor and 2-of-10 behind the three-point line in the 29-point setback. Starter DeVon Mosley was the only Dartmouth player to score in double figures with his 10 points on 4- of-13 shooting from the field, which included 2-of-8 beyond the arc. The rest of the starters combined to hit only 4-of-15 from the field for 13 points. Forced into 18 turnovers, Dartmouth allowed the Falcons to knock down 53.7 percent from the field on the night. Alex Barnett, the only returning player who scored in double figures for the team a season ago with his 11.8 ppg, managed just eight points in 30 minutes of action.
Assuming that both of these teams perform in similar fashion tonight, VMI should be on its way to a convincing win over the Big Green.
Predicted OutcomeVMI 110, Dartmouth 72Copyright 2007 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
