Brian Brown hit nine three-pointers, tying a school record, and the VMI Keydets made 24 as a team to tie another program mark as the Keydets routed the Furman Paladins, 93-59, in Southern Conference basketball action Thursday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Va.
The Keydets (9-16, 5-9 SoCon) blew the game open early in the second half by using the three-pointer, as VMI made nine consecutive from long range at one point. That included makes on four straight possessions by Brown as the Keydets went on to outscore Furman (7-17, 4-9) 55-21 in the second half en route to the victory.
Brown became the second Keydet to make nine three-pointers in a game, joining Fred Robinson, as the senior guard finished with a career-high 29 points. In addition, the Keydets made 24 triples for the second time in program history. They had also accomplished that feat Jan. 29, 2009 against Southern Virginia. VMI’s deluge of triples also tied the most by a Division I team this year, equaling 24 by Iona against Delaware State on Nov. 26.
Tim Marshall added a career-high 25 for VMI as the Keydets won their fifth meeting in the last six tries against the Paladins. Furman was led by Kris Acox’s 14 points.
The first half showed no signs of what was to come, as the teams battled to a 38-38 tie at the break. Furman had put up 28 points in the paint to just six for the Keydets as there were five ties and four lead changes in the first 20 minutes. Marshall, however, drilled a three as time ran out in the first half to tie the score, and that proved to be the spark VMI needed.
The Keydets quickly came out and hit their first eight three-pointers to blow the game open, and never looked back. Brown made six in a row at one point to fuel that spurt, as VMI pulled away to snap its three-game losing skid.
All told, the Keydets finished 33 of 62 from the field (53.2%) and 24 of 45 from three-point range (53.3%), translating to just nine made two-point field goals. VMI went to the line just four times, making three. Furman was 25 of 52 (48.1%) from the floor and 1 of 10 from long range. The Paladins went 8 of 14 (57.1%) at the line.
Thursday’s contest was VMI’s largest conference win since also winning by 34 against Radford on Jan. 13, 2011.
VMI basketball will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on The Citadel Bulldogs. Action is set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the American Sports Network.
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