Freshman QJ Peterson scored 38 points, including 15 straight at one point in the first half, and D.J. Covington added 29 markers and his second seven-block game in a week as the VMI Keydets defeated the Bridgewater College Eagles, 112-86 in non-conference basketball action Wednesday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Va. The Keydets finished the game with 13 blocked shots, tying a facility record previously set in 2010.
The contest was close early with the Keydets nursing a 10-point lead, 37-27, at the 6:27 mark of the first half. From there, the freshman took over, as Peterson scored VMI’s next 15 points over a 3:24 span and capped the push with a basket at the 2:35 mark. That score gave the Keydets a 19-point lead, 52-33, and BC got no closer than 15 the rest of the way. Peterson finished the first half with 28 points, just two shy of the most scored in a first half in VMI basketball history, a mark set by Reggie Williams in January of 2007.
By scoring 38 points, Peterson broke through the previous career of 25 that he had accomplished twice previously, and is now averaging 24.2 points per game through his initial six collegiate contests. The Big South’s steals per game leader added three steals as well on a night that saw him go 15 of 23 overall and 5 of 11 from three-point range.
Meanwhile, Covington’s 29 points was his highest output since his career-high 31-point effort on Feb. 16 of last season against Campbell. The seven blocks were the second time in a week he had accomplished that feat, as he also did so Saturday against Bluefield State, and it was the fifth time in his career he had notched seven blocks or more in a game.
The Keydets took the lead for good early in Wednesday’s contest, but the visitors stayed close and were still within three at the 12:58 mark, 20-17, after two free throws. VMI then responded with its first true run of the game, a 17-8 push that Covington capped with a basket with 6:35 left in the half to give the home team a 12-point lead, 37-25. Ronnie Thomas hit a jumper the next time down the floor to make it 37-27, setting the stage for Peterson’s 15 straight VMI points and the Keydets seizing control of the game.
VMI would take a 15-point lead, 54-39, into the locker room behind Peterson’s 28. The Keydets shot 22 of 46 (47.8%) in the opening half, with Peterson making 11 of VMI’s 22 field goals. Covington also had six blocks in the first 20 minutes of action.
The visitors were still within 16, 59-43, with 18:39 to go, but VMI scored the next nine points to go up 25, 68-43, and despite a 10-3 run later in the period, Bridgewater got no closer than 18 the rest of the way. The Keydets pushed the lead to 30 for the first time with 3:41 to go and took a game-high 31-point advantage with a Julian Eleby hoop with 2:51 on the clock. The Eagles, however, scored four of the game’s final five points to account for the final margin.
In addition to Covington and Peterson, the Keydets put Rodney Glasgow in double figures with 12 points. The senior added six assists as well, as VMI piled up 21 helpers on the night. Bridgewater was paced by Ed Reddick’s 19 points.
VMI basketball will return to action Nov. 27, facing William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Tip time is at 7 p.m.
QUOTES: VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
“I didn’t think we played nearly as good as we should have. Credit Bridgewater. That was their first game this year and did a good job and diced us up a little bit at half court. I don’t think our half court defense was very good but Coach Burgess did a good job getting those guys ready for their first game. I thought they played outstanding.”
“QJ Peterson was pretty spectacular. He hit the three 3’s in a row that blew up the lead a little bit – we were hanging around 8-10 points- and he gave us a little more of a working margin. D.J. Covington played well especially in the second half when he played like he was supposed to. He finished when we threw it into him and finished around the rim.”
“Our free throw shooting was better and from where it’s been, I’ll take it. 13 blocks – I am glad we are contesting shots. We turned it over way too much. When you play a game like this there’s a tendency to try to throw a bunch of home runs and we told them we just needed singles. We got out of hand a couple of times.”
“William and Mary is very good at home so we will have our hands full next Wednesday when we go there. But we have a week to get the guys focused and playing like a team. We weren’t nearly as fluid tonight and were a little selfish, but we’re going through some growing pains and this was out third game in five days.”
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