The VMI Keydets put seven players in double figures, D.J. Covington set a new VMI record for career blocked shots and VMI set a new record for margin of victory in defeating the Washington College Shoremen, 128-54, Saturday afternoon at Cameron Hall.
Saturday’s game was never in doubt, as the Keydets sprinted out to a double-digit lead in the first three-plus minutes and never looked back. VMI (7-6) did not trail in the game, marking the first time that had been the case since Feb. 6 of last season, and the Keydets’ 45-point halftime lead was their largest since Nov. 14, 2007.
With the 74-point margin of victory, VMI broke its previous record of 65, which had been set Nov. 28, 2007 against Columbia Union. The 128-point output was the eighth-highest in Keydet history and, at 63.2%, it was the highest VMI field goal percentage since Dec. 10, 2011 against Milligan College.
Covington, meanwhile, got the long-awaited VMI career blocks record with a rejection of an Austin Murphy layup with 17:58 to go. The senior finished the game with three blocks, giving him 203 for his career, one more than Lewis Preston (1990-93).
QJ Peterson led the Keydets with 20 points and Tim Marshall added a career-high 19 markers, as every VMI player to take the floor scored in the victory.
The Keydets pulled away early, taking a 24-point lead on a Trey Chapman free throw with 9:15 left in the first half. Washington College answered with a James Drury three-pointer on the next trip down the floor, making it 42-21, but the home team closed the half on a blistering 28-4 run and led, 70-25, at the break.
In the first half, Marshall was 5 of 8 from the floor and led all scorers with 16 points, a season high, as the Keydets hit 23 of 36 from the floor (63.9%). The 45-point halftime cushion was VMI’s largest since being up by 51 markers on Nov. 14, 2007 against West Virginia Wesleyan.
The second period was more of the same, as the Keydets scored the first nine points to stretch the run to 37-4 in a push that included Covington’s record-breaking blocked shot. Peterson scored with 17:02 left to make it 79-25, and the Keydets would continue to roll from there. VMI hit the 100-point mark on a Julian Eleby layup with 12 minutes to go, and shortly thereafter, the Keydets emptied their bench en route to the triumph.
The Keydets finished the game with a 43 of 68 effort from the field (63.2%) and went 14 of 26 (53.8%) from three-point range. VMI also hit 28 of 33 from the foul line for an 84.8% percentage, a performance that tied for the most free throws made by the team this season. In addition to Marshall and Peterson, Covington (16), Glasgow (15), Jordan Weethee (12), Phillip Anglade (12) and Christian Burton (12) all scored in double figures, with Burton’s 12 marking a career-high effort.
With the win, VMI moved to 7-0 at home for the second straight year. Finally, the Keydets posted 60 bench points, tying a season high.
Washington College (3-7) was paced by Kevin Cunningham, who had 11 points and nine rebounds on a day where his team was 21 of 69 from the floor (30.4%).
VMI basketball will return to action Wednesday night, opening Big South play against Longwood at Cameron Hall. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Quotes – VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
“That’s what we were looking for. We needed a more consistent effort all over the board. Rodney Glasgow and Q.J. Peterson bounced back like they were capable of and Tim (Marshall) to give us scoring off the bench was huge also.”
“Everybody who took the floor today had some energy about them and some passion and made the most of their minutes and opportunities.”
“I thought we did a good job in transition once we got a turnover and turned it into offense. We threw it ahead several times and we finished and got several three-point plays. We were tough at the rim and I thought we did an awesome job at the free throw line.”
“I’m proud of D.J. Covington. He’s gotten better and better. He had 16 points and played just 18 minutes today and his blocks were huge and he changed some other shots. We he is aggressive out there altering those shots, that’s the way we want him to play.”
“I thought the guys did a great job defensively today.”
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