The VMI Keydets put five players in double figures and led virtually wire to wire en route an 86-72 win over the UNCG Spartans in SoCon basketball action Thursday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington.
The Keydets (7-17, 2-11 SoCon) dominated the first half and led by 17 at the break after a half-court three-pointer by Austin Vereen at the buzzer. UNCG (9-17, 5-8) made a run in the second half and got within five, but 16 second-half points from QJ Peterson helped turn back the Spartans as the Keydets prevailed.
For the second time this season, VMI put five players in double figures. Peterson led the Keydets on this night with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tim Marshall chipped in 16 markers and Vereen added a career-best 12. UNCG was led by RJ White, who had 24 points and seven boards.
UNCG took a brief lead at the 18:31 mark, when Diante Baldwin hit a three-pointer to make it a 3-2 game, but Marshall hit a trey on the other end to give the Keydets the lead for good. The Keydets closed the half on an 11-3 run, including Vereen’s long three, and took a 17-point lead to the locker room.
UNCG came out strong in the second half and with 10:23 remaining, was back within five. VMI coach Dan Earl reinserted Phillip Anglade, however, who had been sitting due to foul concerns, and the Keydets scored seven of the game’s next nine points to retake command of the contest. UNCG got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
The Keydets sprinted out to an early lead in large part due to making 18 of 34 (52.9%) from the floor in the first half, and finished out the game successfully due to going 16 of 18 from the foul line (88.9%). The Keydets also finished the game with seven turnovers, just one of which came in the first half.
For the game, VMI was 29 of 64 (45.3%) from the field and 12 of 32 (37.5%) from three-point range. UNCG finished the night 27 of 62 (43.5%), 8 of 29 (27.6%) and 10 of 13 (76.9%) respectively.
VMI basketball will return to action Feb. 18, when the Keydets face the league-leading Mocs of Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tenn. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.
Press Conference: VMI Head Coach Dan Earl
“I was proud of the guys and they really fought hard throughout. We played a complete game and played for all 40 minutes. UNCG is a good team and they made a run at us in the second half. Sometimes when you are going through what we have, it’s easy to say ‘here we go again.’ But I thought the guys had a look in their eyes tonight and continued to compete throughout the game.”
“I can’t say enough about the way the ball moved around on offense. 17 assists, 7 turnovers, that’s what we need. It’s no magic formula, it’s just throwing the ball to the open man. We hadn’t been good in that department throughout the year. We tied them in rebounding and in the end made some shots.”
“We have to get right back at it. It’s a process we continue to learn and get better and continue to believe and stay confident.”
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