Tech men enjoying break after 5-1 start

From Staff Reports

After an early-season flurry, the WVU Tech men are embracing a lull that won’t see them hit the court against an opponent for 13 days.

“It’s tiring when you play that many games so quickly,” said coach Bob Williams, whose team played seven games, including several against lower-tier West Virginia Conference teams, in two weeks to open the campaign. “It’s important as an institution that we play those West Virginia Conference teams.”

Tech hopes to eventually gain reinstatement to the WVC.

The Bears (5-1) won their third straight and fourth in five games with an 88-69 conquest of visiting Bluefield State College Thursday.

Tech followed the Bluefield game with a 63-52 loss to Division I Coppin (Md.) State on Saturday. The contest was an exhibition game for Tech and a regular season affair for Coppin (2-0).

“We competed with them,” said Williams. “Our defense was good enough, but we shot only 39 percent.”

The Bears remained in contact throughout the game, but a poor spell in the second half prevented them from making any further headway. “We had four turnovers in a row, and they all led to layups,” said Williams. “But we kept battling and battling.”

The four miscues led to 21 turnovers on the night, compared to 13 for Coppin.

For Tech, Robby Marshall scored 12 and Russell Allen had 10.

The Bears will participate in the MSC Challenge at Frankfort, Ky. on Nov. 27 and 28. Eight Mid-South Conference teams will tangle with eight non-league squads on the court that will host the MSC tournament at season’s end.

Tech faces St. Francis (Ind.) at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, then the Bears play Virginia Intermont at 9 a.m. on Nov. 28.

“It will be a good way to scout everybody and get two games in on the conference tournament floor,” Williams said.



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WVU Tech (52)

Russell Allen 4-6 2-2 10, Robby Marshall 4-9 4-8 12, Josh Stricker 1-3 0-0 2, Darryl Slack 3-7 1-3 7, Zack Thomsen 2-10 0-1 4, Derek Clark 2-4 0-0 4, Ben Shannon 2-4 0-0 6, Terrale Clark 0-1 2-4 2, Nicholas Kjaerholt 2-5 0-0 5. Totals: 20-49 9-18 52.

Coppin State (63)

Branden Doughty 3-4 6-7 13, Ceslovas Kucinskas 0-0 0-0 0, Vince Goldsberry 4-12 4-7 12, Quinston Reggins 1-2 1-2 3, Kareem Brown 7-17 2-3 17, George Jackson 2-5 6-8 10, Eddie Hayden 0-1 0-0 0, Jonathan Landry 4-9 0-0 8, Sam Coleman 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 21-53 19-27 63.

WVT 23 29 — 52

C 30 33 — 63

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