FARMVILLE, Va. - The VMI basketball team overcame lackluster free throw shooting with strong defense and hit all three shots from the field in overtime to escape with a 69-64 win over Longwood Wednesday night at Willett Hall.

The win moved VMI to 4-1 on the year, its best start since 1985-86 when the Keydets stood 4-1 through the first five games.

With the game tied at 32-32 at the break, the Keydets raced to a nine-point lead when Levar Joseph hit a layup - his eleventh straight point to cap a 7-0 run to put the Keydets up 43-34 with 17:11 left.

But the Keydets went without a field goal for the next 6:30 as Longwood went on a 19-10 run to tie the score at 53-53 at 9:13 with a Maurice Sumpter jumper, and another Sumpter jumper 54 seconds later put the Lancers ahead for the first time in the second half, 55-53.

A 10-0 run by the Lancers built their lead to 59-53 when Chad Kosmo hit a putback shot with 5:18 remaining. But the Keydets closed with a 7-1 run capped by a Tim Allmond free throw shot to tie the game at 60-60 with 1:40 left.

Both teams missed scoring opportunities in the final seconds of regulation and the Keydets headed to overtime for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Forward Reggie Williams hit a layup with 4:14 left in OT to put the Keydets up for good, and VMI held Longwood to 1-7 shooting from the field in the extra frame, but couldn't put the game away - missing nine straight free throws on overtime until Williams hit the second of two attempts to make it 67-64 with 9.0 second left.

Longwood's Brandon Giles missed a three-pointer from the left wing on the ensuing possession and VMI's Fred Robinson rebounded and was fouled. Robinson hit both free throws with three seconds left to put the game away.

Robinson, who has given the Keydets clutch scoring off the bench this season, scored all of his six points in overtime with Williams contributing the other three points.

The game had seven ties and seven lead changes. VMI shot 39.1% from the field but hit six 3-pointers in 19 attempts while limiting Longwood to 1 of 13 shooting beyond the arc.

Williams led the Keydets in scoring with a career-high 21 points on 8-14 shooting including a pair of three pointers. Point guard Matt Coward finished with 15 points including three triples and 12 points in the first half. Coward also finished with five assists and three steals.

Senior center Tim Allmond scored nine points and finished with eight rebounds and junior Preston Beverly had nine rebounds in 15 minutes. Joseph finished with nine points.

Lancer sophomore guard Michael Jefferson led all scores with 23 points and hit 10 off 22 shots.

Longwood remained winless in nine games. The teams will meet again at Cameron Hall on February 10.

The Keydets next face Towson at Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Cameron Hall. Longwood plays in the San Francisco Tournamant Friday night - facing USF.