December 5, 2002

Tech forward Bryant Matthews scored a career-high 26 points and held VMI's Jason Conley to a career-low 17 in leading the Hokies to a hard-fought 71-66 non-conference win over the Keydets in front of 3,521 at Cassell Coliseum on Thursday night.

Tech, which bounced back from a disappointing loss to Wofford on Monday, improved to 4-2 on the season. VMI fell to 2-2.

Matthews surpassed his previous career high of 21 points set against High Point in 2000, his freshman year. He hit 10-of-15 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Both his field goals made and 3-pointers made are also career highs.

More importantly, Matthews prevented Conley - who led the nation in scoring as a freshman last season (29.3 ppg) - from going off. The sophomore hit just 6-of-17 from the floor, including 2-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc.

"I played with him on a team that went overseas and he's a good friend," said Matthews, who traveled with Conley on a team that competed in France during Matthews' junior year of high school. "I knew he was a scorer. I was just trying to contain him. Any player of that caliber, that's all you can do."

Despite Matthews' efforts on both ends, the Hokies still had to fight to get the ŒW.' Tech led the entire second half, but the Keydets cut it to four with less than a minute to go.

In the end, the Hokies made their free throws, hitting 10-of-12 in the final 1:17 to preserve the win. Dimari Thompkins made all six of his attempts during that stretch and finished with 10 points.

"We did everything right down the stretch," VMI coach Bart Bellairs said. "We hit shots and we fouled the right guys. They just made some huge free throws. You have to give them credit."

Terry Taylor added 10 points for the Hokies, but went just 2-of-10 from the free-throw line. Tech shot better from the field (54.3 percent) than the free-throw line (50.0).

VMI, which shot 45.6 percent from the floor, also got a career-high 17 points from Richard Little. Radee Skipworth added 13 for the Keydets in a losing effort.

Tech now hits the road for its next two games. The Hokies travel to William & Mary on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m., and then go to East Carolina on Monday, again, for a 7 p.m. tip-off.