LEXINGTON, Va. - Junior guard Dwayne Jackson scored five straight points in the last :30 of regulation to lift Charleston Southern to a 76-73 win over VMI Thursday afternoon in Lexington.

It was the Big South opener for both teams. Charleston Southern moved to 6-6, 1-0 BSC, while the Keydets fell to 5-7, 1-1 BSC.

The Keydets in the conference opener were without head coach Duggar Baucom, who underwent a routine medical procedure earlier in the week. Baucom is expected to return to the sidelines as early as Saturday when VMI faces Coastal Carolina. Assistant coach Daniel Willis handled coaching duties in Baucom's absence.

In a game that saw seven ties, 18 lead changes, and no lead of more than six points, it was Jackson who canned a 24-footer from the right wing that put the Bucs up for good, 74-71, with :30 remaining in regulation.

VMI cut the deficit to 74-73 when sophomore forward Reggie Williams hit a driving layup with 12.4 seconds left. The Keydets fouled Jackson in the backcourt with 10.8 second left, and the Fort Myers, Fla. native calmly drained two free throws to close out the game's scoring.

VMI's hopes for overtime were dashed when Williams' running 21-footer from the top of the key with four seconds remaining was rebounded by Buc forward Vernon Huger.

Huger, a junior forward from Charleston, S.C., dominated the boards all afternoon and finished with 17 rebounds including 11 on the offensive glass.

Charleston Southern was led in scoring by sophomore guard Chris Moore, who finished with a game and season-high 23 points including seven of nine from three-point range. Senior guard Terrell Brown and Jackson each added 12 points for the Buccaneers.

VMI placed four in double figures scoring and was led by a career-high 19 points from freshman guard Travis Holmes. Williams also added 19 points and nine rebounds while junior forward Matt Murrer scored 14 points and freshman guard Chavis Holmes chipped in 10 points.

CSU shot 51.4% in the second half after going just 31.4% from the floor and finished the game shooting 41.4%. The Buccaneers overcame lackluster free throw shooting (7-17) by hitting 11 of 27 from three-point range. CSU also dished out 20 assists and committed only eight turnovers.

VMI shot 48.3% for the game and was 11 of 17 from the free throw line for 64.3%.

The game was officiated as a two-man crew in the later part of the second half when Nathan Quick went down with an apparent knee injury. Rick Ridenhour and Joe Mazella finished working the game as a tandem.

Over 300 students from the Lexington School system, ranging from third to eighth grade, attended the mid-week game that tipped off at noon.

VMI returns to action Saturday against Coastal Carolina at 1:00 p.m. Charleston Southern plays at High Point at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night.