The VMI Keydets nearly rallied from a 14-point deficit in the waning moments, but a potential game-tying three-pointer with 17 seconds to go was no good as the Wofford Terriers held on for a 65-61 win in SoCon basketball action Tuesday night in Lexington, Va.
VMI (5-8, 0-2 SoCon) had fallen behind 61-47 after a flagrant foul had helped Wofford (5-9, 2-0) pile up eight consecutive points with 4:35 to go. A Trey Chapman three then started a 12-1 run, capped by a QJ Peterson three-pointer with 41 seconds left, that pulled the Keydets within three at 62-59.
On VMI’s next trip down the floor, however, Peterson slipped ever so slightly on a step-back three-point attempt. That allowed the Wofford defender to better contest the shot, and it was no good. The Terriers then wrapped up the game at the foul line in the waning moments.
Three players finished in double figures for each team, led by Peterson’s 18 points, 13 of which came in the second half. The SoCon’s leading scorer added eight rebounds as well. Phillip Anglade (13) and Trey Chapman (12) were also in double figures for the home team, while Spencer Collins led Wofford with 13 markers.
Wofford led for the majority of the first half, but never by more than six in what was a nip and tuck first 20 minutes. A free throw by Tim Marshall gave the Keydets their first, and only, lead of the game, 27-26 at halftime.
The Keydets started the second half extremely cold, and the visitors took full advantage. The Terriers used an 11-0 run to take their first double-digit lead of the night, 37-27, with 17:08 left in the game as VMI went over nine minutes without a field goal.
The Keydets managed to get back within three with 12:14 to play, and were still within six – 53-47 – after a three-pointer by Chapman with 8:44 on the clock. Wofford then started an 8-0 run two minutes later, took a 14-point lead and appeared to seize control after VMI’s Marshall was ejected for a flagrant foul with 4:55 remaining.
The Keydets rallied, however, using their 12-1 run to climb back in the contest and set up the final dramatic moments.
VMI finished the game shooting 20 of 49 (40.8%) and 8 of 18 from three-point range (44.4%). The Keydets were 13 of 18 from the free throw line (72.2%), losing the battle of the two best free throw shooting teams in the SoCon, as Wofford shot 19 of 21 from the charitystripe (90.5%). The Terriers were 20 of 48 overall (41.7%) and 6 of 20 (30.0%) from distance.
VMI basketball will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets take on Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. Game time for the SoCon contest is set for 4:30 p.m.
Press Conference: VMI Head Coach Dan Earl
“I thought we really competed and I was proud of our guys for our effort, particularly defensively. What I would have liked was for us to rebound much better, but I thought we were dialed in defensively and communicated defensively.”
“It was a game of some missed shots. We didn’t make shots and some times you have tougher nights and we had some silly turnovers that were uncharacteristic – just passing and catching which is deflating – but it didn’t take away from the effort our guys showed.”
“We don’t believe in moral victories but we can build off this kind of effort.”
“Wofford is a solid basketball team with a lot of good players that run a lot of sets. We’ll learn from this and get ready to fight next time out.”
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