The VMI Keydets put all five of their starters in double figures, but the Elon Phoenix shot 56.6% from the field and used a 12-0 run to break open the game en route to an 87-70 win Tuesday night in Elon, N.C.
After a first half that had seen VMI (4-4) trail by as many as 16, the Keydets used an early second-half 8-1 run to climb within six, 45-39, with 16:56 to go. Lucas Troutman scored moments later for Elon (5-4), however, starting a 12-0 run that left the Phoenix with an 18-point lead, and VMI could get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
In defeat, the Keydets saw all five of their starters post at least 11 points, led by Jordan Weethee’s 15 markers. D.J. Covington finished with his second double-double of the year, notching 11 points and 12 rebounds, but fouled out with 6:05 remaining.
Elon was paced by Tanner Samson’s 23 points and nine rebounds on a night where the Phoenix went 30 of 53 (56.6%) from the floor, while VMI finished 26 of 66 (39.4%) on the evening.
Elon led from the game’s first basket but the contest was even for the first several minutes, as two Rodney Glasgow free throws made it a two-point game at the 14:06 mark, 10-8. From there, the home team used a 14-5 run to take a double-digit lead for the first time, 24-13 with 9:29 remaining in the half.
VMI quickly rallied, using an 8-1 run to reduce the deficit to four at 25-21, but Elon then went up 14 with a 10-0 push and led 35-21 with3:43 on the clock. That lead grew to as many as 16 before the Keydets scored the half’s final five points to go into the locker room down 11, 42-31.
Despite solid performances from their starters, the Keydets trailed at the break thanks in large part to a 15-0 deficit in bench points, a trend that would continue into the second half. Elon also held a 26-10 edge in points in the paint and had 14 points off seven Keydet turnovers.
In spite of those stats, the Keydets mounted a comeback to start the second half. Ryley Beaumont of Elon made a 13-point game, 44-31, with the first basket of the period, but VMI scored eight of the game’s next nine points, all of which came in the paint, to cut the deficit to six with 16:56 to go. After an exchange of turnovers, Troutman then scored for Elon to start the game-turning run, the 12-0 spurt that gave the home team a 57-39 lead with 13:57 remaining.
VMI immediately went on an 11-4 run, a push that included nine points by QJ Peterson, and made it a 61-50 contest, but could not get closer as Elon scored nine of the game’s next 10 points and went on to victory.
In the contest, Elon was victorious despite shooting just 55.3% from the foul line, as they managed to go 21 of 38.
The Keydets hit 80% of their attempts from the charity stripe, but posted just 15 tries in a 12 for 15 evening. The Phoenix finished with a 25-13 edge in points off turnovers, despite VMI having just 12 such miscues to Elon’s 11. Elon also finished with a 24-6 edge in bench scoring.
Other leading scorers included Elon’s Troutman, who finished with 21 points, while Peterson had 14 and Glasgow chipped in 13.
VMI basketball will return to action Saturday, facing the Wright State Raiders at Cameron Hall in Lexington. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
Quotes – VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
“We got it close a couple of times, but then we would have a bonehead turnover and missed an assignment or something. It happened in the first half and then we came out and rallied in the second half and got it to six. We had what we wanted to run and then threw it away. We just didn’t play good enough to win.”
“They have a good team. I thought we did a good job guarding the three-point line in the first half – they had two – but they drove it to the rim and finished and we drove it to the rim and didn’t finish. That was the difference in the game.”
“Our bench only gave us six points and you’re not going to win with that. We have to be better than we were tonight if we’re going to beat anybody in our league. They are a good team, but we have to play better. We’ll have our hands full Saturday against Wright State, but we will be back at home.”