LEXINGTON, Va. - UNC Asheville placed four players in double figures scoring and secured its fourth straight win over VMI with a 77-72 decision before 2,126 spectators at Cameron Hall Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs shot 61% in the second half, but had to hold off a VMI rally in the final minute of regulation.

UNC Asheville raised its overall mark to 9-14, 6-6 Big South, while VMI fell to 6-16 and remains winless in league play.

Chad Mohn hit seven of nine shots from the floor and led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Also in double figures scoring for UNCA were K.J. Garland (15), Oliver Holmes (13), and Omar Collington (11).

The Keydets were led in scoring by guards Matt Coward and Sean Christensen who each scored 13 points. Tim Allmond added 11 points for VMI.

UNCA led 33-26 at the break after finishing the first half with a 6-0 flurry. The Bulldogs led grew to as much as 11 points, at the 16:14 mark of regulation when C.J. Walker converted a dunk and free throw to put UNCA on top, 43-32.

VMI closed within three points when Sam Mielnik hit one of two free throws with 6:29 remaining to make it 60-57, but the Bulldogs pushed their margin back to a 72-63 lead with 1:07 left when K.J. Garland converted a fast break layup.

The game's final minute saw the Bulldogs miss five of 10 free throw attempts, but VMI
did not come any closer than four points when Coward converted two of three free throws with :12 left to cut it to 76-74. Mohn nailed one of two free throws with :11 left and blocked a Coward layup attempt on the ensuing possession to preserve the win.

UNCA controlled the boards, 32-26, and drained eight of 14 beyond the arc for 57%. Despite the sluggish finish at the line, the Bulldogs went 17 of 24 in free throw shooting (70.8%) for the game.

VMI committed a season-low nine turnovers and shot 50% in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 39% effort from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Coward, the Big South's leading assist man, dished out eight assists for the game - marking the 13th time he had generated five or more assists in a game. Christensen's 13 points was a career-high and the first time the Greenville, Pa. freshman had generated double figures scoring in a game.

VMI (6-16, 0-11) travels to Radford Monday night for a 7:00 tip at the Dedmond Cen-
Ter. UNC Asheville will play Birmingham-Southern Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Justice Center in Asheville, N.C.