The ETSU Bucs closed the first half on a 15-2 run to take the lead for good, en route to a 71-60 win over the VMI Keydets in Southern Conference action Thursday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Va.
VMI (6-15, 1-9 SoCon) had not trailed all night and held a 26-15 lead after a Phillip Anglade three-point play with 5:35 left in the first half. ETSU, however, rallied from there. The Bucs (14-9, 7-3) had four players combined for 15 points and the team held the Keydets to an 0 for 7 stretch to end the half.
The visitors took a 30-28 lead at the break and, with the exception of a brief tie early in the second half, held on to that advantage the rest of the way.
ETSU was led by Ge’Lawn Guyn, who posted 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Isaac Banks fell one point shy of a double-double, with nine points and 11 boards, while QJ Peterson and Julian Eleby had 18 points apiece to lead the home team.
The Bucs finished with a 29-5 edge in bench points as well.
The contest revolved around turnovers. ETSU survived 12 in the first half to take the narrow advantage to the locker room, but the visitors posted just three miscues in the second period as they outscored the Keydets by nine en route to the win. The Keydets had 14 turnovers on the night, six in the second half.
VMI jumped out to the early lead behind forcing 10 ETSU turnovers in the first 5:35, and after Anglade’s three-point play, led by 11. The Bucs rallied from there, and limited themselves to a pair of miscues over the remainder of the half.
The second half saw Peterson score early, tying the game at 30, but a layup by Banks on the ensuing possession gave the visitors the lead for good. The Bucs led by as many as 15 in the second half and although the Keydets closed within seven in the final minute, ETSU was able to preserve its margin at the foul line en route to the win.
The Keydets finished the game shooting 21 of 57 overall (36.8%) and 11 of 34 (32.4%) from long range. VMI, however, was just 7 of 13 at the foul line (53.8%) while ETSU was 12 of 15 (80%) including 7 of 7 in the second half. The Bucs went 25 of 57 (43.9%) from the floor and were 9 of 23 (39.1%) from beyond the arc.
VMI basketball will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets play host to the Western Carolina Catamounts at Cameron Hall. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
Press Conference: VMI Head Coach Dan Earl
“I thought we were playing with a lot of energy early. I liked the way we were pushing the ball. We took a lot of shots and unfortunately they didn’t fall, but they were good shots. I’m fine with getting open shots and making the right play. Unfortunately, we did not shoot a high percentage and after that we hit a lull at the end of the first half and certainly the second half. We just have to play better.”
“I give ETSU credit defensively. They started switching more screens and tried to keep us in front a lot better in the second and their transition D was better in the second half.
“We have to play harder. No one is going to give you the game. I think individually we’re trying to make effort but collectively as a team, you have to have somebody step up and get a stop on defense. Unfortunately, I don’t think we did that the entire game and certainly not in the second half.”
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