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VMI Basketball Drops 56-50 Decision at Charleston Southern

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Junior guard Thomas Harrison scored 13 points and hauled in eight rebounds to spark Charleston Southern to a 56-50 win over visiting VMI on Monday night at the CSU field house.

Charleston Southern improves to 9-12 overall and 6-5 in the Big South, moving into a tie for fourth-place and just a game out of third. VMI falls to 5-15 overall and 0-10 in league play.

Playing their third game in five days, the Buccaneers had to dig deep to fight off an inspired VMI squad down the stretch. The Bucs held a 10-point lead with just under nine minutes remaining before the Keydets cut it down to three at 51-48 with two minutes left in the contest.

Charleston Southern managed to seal the deal by hitting five of six free throws in the final 20 seconds.

Sophomore Matt Coward was the only Keydet scoring in double figures, as he finished with 15 points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds. Freshman Reggie Williams and junior Preston Beverly each had nine points on the night, as Beverly also pitched in with 11 boards and a pair of steals.

The Keydets connected on 43.8 percent of their shots, including 58.8 percent in the first half, and out-rebounded Charleston Southern 32-26. However, free-throw shooting in the second half hurt the VMI cause, as the Keydets knocked down only one of their four opportunities after hitting 71.4 percent of their first-half free throws. The Bucs hit 15 of their 21 attempts from the line, and shot 42.1 percent from the field on the night.

VMI entered the game with a depleted squad but battled throughout the night.

Junior guard Levar Joseph aggrevated a knee injury practice in Sunday and missed Monday night's game. He will be examined Tuesday in Lexington and his status for Thursday night's Longwood game is uncertain.

The flu bug also sidelined forward Matt Murrer, and guards Jack Castleberry and Zach West for Monday's game.

The Keydets return to action Thursday evening, when they host Longwood at 7 p.m. at Cameron Hall.
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