LEXINGTON, VA. - Freshman forward Matt Murrer (Richmond, Va.) scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds and VMI placed four in double figures scoring to post its first win of the season, 85-62, over neighboring Southern Virginia University Tuesday night at Cameron Hall.

Joining Murrer in double figures were Radee Skipworth (16), Tim Allmond (12), and, Matt Coward (12).

Southern Virginia (4-7) was paced by Ryan Henderson with 14 points and Brandon Homer with 14 points.

The Knights assumed a 6-5 lead on a Ryan Farnworth jumper with 16:42 left, but the Keydets took the lead for good on a Radee Skipworth layup with 15:26 left to make it 7-6. Skipworth scored VMI's first 11 points of the ballgame and helped key VMI to a 19-12 advantage with 8:54 left in the half. The Knights sliced the lead to 24-22 on a Baily Beckstead layup at the 5:35 mark, but the Keydets finished the half with a 22-9 run to assume a 46-31 intermission lead. Murrer scored nine points during the outburst.

SVU's 9-2 run over the first six plus minutes of the half cut the VMI lead to 48-40, but the Keydets answered again with 11 straight points and an 18-1 run capped by a Fred Robinson jumper with 7:11 left in the game. The Knights came no closer than 13 points (71-57), the rest of the way.

The game featured 53 fouls whistled on both teams and VMI shot 29 of 37 from the charity stripe for 78.4% while the Knights hit 17 of 22.

VMI (1-3) outrebounded SVU on the boards, 48-31 as Murrer and Allmond each had nine rebounds.

The Keydets entertain Virginia Friday night at Cameron Hall. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m.

VMI HEAD COACH BART BELLAIRS - "I was pleased with the fact that we had a game plan to go inside and our kids stuck with it. I'm glad to get the first "W" in the books, and we have to look ahead to Virginia. Our pressure was good for us tonight , especially if we have to go small ball, we're going to have to have some pressure on people. There were some key points where we didn't block out and Virginia is going to be coming in as a lot bigger team. We're going to have to do a better job. That's been a weakness again. We started slowly in the second half because we got quick in our shot selection again, and we have to use the shot clock a little bit more, especially with the young kids in there. The quickness of Matt Coward showed and I thought Jack Castleberry did a nice job. And what can you say about Matt Murrer, 9 for 10 from the field."