MONTGOMERY - The late-night snacks, among other things, seem to be playing a part in Ben Shannon's late-blooming basketball career.

As a player, he didn't begin blossoming until his senior season at Herbert Hoover, where he averaged 18 points a game, earned third-team all-state honors and helped the Huskies to an 18-5 record, the best in school history.

Nowadays, after a red-shirt season at West Virginia University Tech, the 6-foot-4 Shannon has increased his weight to about 155 pounds and has been a frequent, if still lean, contributor off the Tech bench this season.

In what amounted to a lively Saturday afternoon scrimmage for the 12 Golden Bears in uniform, Tech hurried out to a 55-point lead in the first half and picked up a 112-43 victory over Roanoke Bible College, a school of 400 students in Elizabeth City, N.C.

Shannon saw 20 minutes of playing time and contributed eight points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal - numbers that reflect his play in the season's early weeks. Entering Saturday's game, he averaged seven points, 4.2 rebounds and 19 minutes a game.

As a red-shirt freshman, he's still a work-in-progress, of course, and down the road is likely to expand his on-the-court production. In the meantime, he needs to add weight. 

"I eat late at night, do pushups in the room and the extra stuff to try and get stronger,'' said Shannon. "I take a lot of protein drinks and milkshakes. I need to work on getting stronger, definitely. And my ball-handling has got to improve drastically.''

Tech coach Bob Williams likes Shannon's ability to learn quickly, as well as his well-rounded assortment of skills.

"He does everything right,'' said Williams. "Everything we ask him to do, he does really well, especially on the defensive end. He's really become a good defensive player. He passes the ball well, he's rebounding, he knocks down the open 3. He probably wants to get a little more consistent with the 3. And as a freshman, he's got good leadership skills. I can see him being a good leader. He's got a great attitude, loves to play.''

He's even found a solution to Montgomery's scarcity of entertainment options.  

"A lot of people say there's nothing to do in Montgomery,'' he said, "but you really don't need anything if you're playing a sport. Your team is your family. You do stuff with your team. We take trips to Charleston two or three times a week. Eight or nine of us will go. We go out to eat and go to a movie.''

BRIEFLY: Tech (5-2) built first-half leads of 46-5 and 65-10. Eleven of 12 Golden Bears scored in the first half and everyone eventually scored. Six players scored in double-figures, led by Victor McGee's 19 points. ... Freshman Randal Thornton, a George Washington graduate, had three points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. ... Scarcely challenged by the Roanoke defense, the Golden Bears converted 10-of-16 3-point tries. ... Tech will play host to Apprentice at 4 p.m. Nov. 29.

Reach Mike Whiteford at 348-7948 or               mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com.

MONTGOMERY - The late-night snacks, among other things, seem to be playing a part in Ben Shannon's late-blooming basketball career.

As a player, he didn't begin blossoming until his senior season at Herbert Hoover, where he averaged 18 points a game, earned third-team all-state honors and helped the Huskies to an 18-5 record, the best in school history.

Nowadays, after a red-shirt season at West Virginia University Tech, the 6-foot-4 Shannon has increased his weight to about 155 pounds and has been a frequent, if still lean, contributor off the Tech bench this season.

In what amounted to a lively Saturday afternoon scrimmage for the 12 Golden Bears in uniform, Tech hurried out to a 55-point lead in the first half and picked up a 112-43 victory over Roanoke Bible College, a school of 400 students in Elizabeth City, N.C.

Shannon saw 20 minutes of playing time and contributed eight points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal - numbers that reflect his play in the season's early weeks. Entering Saturday's game, he averaged seven points, 4.2 rebounds and 19 minutes a game.

As a red-shirt freshman, he's still a work-in-progress, of course, and down the road is likely to expand his on-the-court production. In the meantime, he needs to add weight. 

"I eat late at night, do pushups in the room and the extra stuff to try and get stronger,'' said Shannon. "I take a lot of protein drinks and milkshakes. I need to work on getting stronger, definitely. And my ball-handling has got to improve drastically.''

Tech coach Bob Williams likes Shannon's ability to learn quickly, as well as his well-rounded assortment of skills.

"He does everything right,'' said Williams. "Everything we ask him to do, he does really well, especially on the defensive end. He's really become a good defensive player. He passes the ball well, he's rebounding, he knocks down the open 3. He probably wants to get a little more consistent with the 3. And as a freshman, he's got good leadership skills. I can see him being a good leader. He's got a great attitude, loves to play.''

He's even found a solution to Montgomery's scarcity of entertainment options.  

"A lot of people say there's nothing to do in Montgomery,'' he said, "but you really don't need anything if you're playing a sport. Your team is your family. You do stuff with your team. We take trips to Charleston two or three times a week. Eight or nine of us will go. We go out to eat and go to a movie.''

BRIEFLY: Tech (5-2) built first-half leads of 46-5 and 65-10. Eleven of 12 Golden Bears scored in the first half and everyone eventually scored. Six players scored in double-figures, led by Victor McGee's 19 points. ... Freshman Randal Thornton, a George Washington graduate, had three points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. ... Scarcely challenged by the Roanoke defense, the Golden Bears converted 10-of-16 3-point tries. ... Tech will play host to Apprentice at 4 p.m. Nov. 29.

Reach Mike Whiteford at 348-7948 or               mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com.