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VMI basketball overcomes early struggles, tops Presbyterian, 76-61

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vmiThe VMI Keydets outscored the Presbyterian College Blue Hose by 23 points in the second half to rally for a 76-61, come from behind, victory in non-conference basketball action Tuesday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington.

The Keydets (2-2) trailed for the entire first half, but a 16-5 run to start the second half, capped by a QJ Peterson three-pointer with 12:16 to go, gave VMI a 46-43 lead. DeSean Murray converted a three-point play at the other end to tie the game, but two Julian Eleby free throws put the Keydets back in front and they would not trail again.

VMI put four players in double figures, led by Peterson’s 25-point, eight-rebound, five-assist night. Eleby chipped in 16 points and seven boards, while Trey Chapman and Jordan Weethee added 11 points apiece.

Presbyterian (3-2) was led by Murray’s 26-point, 12-rebound night.

The Blue Hose jumped on the Keydets early, opening the game with a 13-2 run over the first 4:43. VMI climbed back to within two on a pair of occasions, including at 20-18 with 7:42 left in the half, but a 14-4 run by PC put their squad back up by 12 late in the half. The Blue Hose maintained their double-digit edge until the final moments of the half, when Fred Iruafemi scored to account for the 38-30 halftime margin.

Chapman and Peterson then opened the second half with baskets to start the game-turning, 16-5 run. After Murray tied the game with a three-point play at the 11:15 mark, Eleby’s free throws started a 10-0 spurt that put the Keydets in front for good. The visitors got no closer than five the rest of the way.

In a surprising stat, VMI outscored PC 40-18 in points in the paint. The Keydets also held an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers on a night where they shot 29 of 67 overall (43.3%). VMI was 7 for 24 from long range (29.2%), but 7 for 12 (58.3%) in the second half after an 0 for 12 effort in the opening 20 minutes. The Keydets also made 11 of their 12 free throws (91.7%).

The Blue Hose were held to 2 of 14 from three-point range (14.3%) and 23 of 54 (42.6%) overall. In the decisive second half, however, PC was 8 of 27 (29.6%) and did not make a three-pointer in seven attempts. The visitors were 13 of 17 (76.5%) from the free throw line.

VMI basketball will return to action Monday night, when the Keydets travel to Buies Creek, N.C. to take on the Campbell Camels. Game time against the Keydets’ former Big South opponent is set for 7 p.m.

 

QUOTES – VMI Head Coach Dan Earl

“I was really proud of the guys. We’ve had some sluggish second halves coming out of the locker room. Tonight, I challenged them because things weren’t going our way. We got into some foul trouble with Phil Anglade and we weren’t shooting the ball well. We were 0 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half but we can’t let our defense be affected by our offense. I was proud of the guys coming out of the locker room being dialed in and ready to play with a lot of energy and effort.”

“Jordan Weethee hit some big shots for us. I keep telling our guys when we share the ball, we have the chance to be a very good team.”

“They (PC) are very good down low and (DeSean) Murray is a workhorse and can score every which way. The fact that we were able to outscore them in the paint is a good sign because you can’t live and die with just the three pointers.”

“QJ Peterson was very good tonight. He’s a tremendous scorer and everybody knows that. I think he has taken to our coaching and if he continues to be a great all around player setting guys up – obviously tonight he had eight rebounds and five assists with just two turnovers – an all around game which I thought was outstanding.”

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