LEXINGTON, Va. - Just five days after a record book tsunami in which 24 VMI basketball marks fell, one of those benchmarks was set again as VMI knocked off Southern Virginia University, 144-127, Monday night at Cameron Hall.
The 271 total points overtook the "old" record of 251 points set just five days earlier at Cameron Hall when VMI overwhelmed Virginia Intermont, 156-95.
VMI placed five players in double figures in the win. Junior forward Reggie Williams scored 36 points to lead the Keydets followed by sophomore guard Chavis Holmes with 28 points. Other double-figures efforts came from senior forward Matt Murrer with 25 points and freshman point guard Adam Lonon with 10 points.
The Keydets (3-2) won their third straight to move their record over the .500 mark for the first time in the young campaign.
Southern Virginia (2-5) placed six in double-figures scoring and was led by junior guard Aaron Louder with 26 points while junior forward Tanner Johnson added 25 points.
SVU scored the first basket of the game, but that lead would be short lived as the Keydets ripped off 10 straight points. A Murrer jumper at the 18:09 mark put the VMI up, 10-2, and started a 14-5 run to comfortably push the lead to 15 points, 22-7.
The Keydets built as much as a 21-point lead with 7:52 left when freshman Carl Josey rammed in a 3-pointer.
VMI led 73-54 at the break and was poised for another overwhelming win as its lead grew to as much as 37 points with 7:03 following a Williams 3-pointer.
But SVU, behind barrage of five made treys and sharp foul shooting, chipped away at the deficit for the remainder of regulation and was able to pull within 17 points at the final buzzer.
"SVU took the fight to us and we had to really work, I thought," said VMI coach Duggar Baucom. "I wasn't pleased with the way we finished off that game. We had guys acting roles that they are not supposed to be doing. I'm proud of the guys for their effort and they put forth that effort, but we had some guys doing some stuff they are not capable of doing and that's never a good feeling as a coach."
VMI forced SVU into 39 turnovers that generated 61 points, and the Keydets had 28 steals and were led By Travis Holmes with six. VMI was able to do most of its damage inside, outscoring SVU in the paint largely due to 25 offensive rebounds which led to 36 second chance points.
VMI shot 53.2% from the field (58-109) and hit 20 of 59 beyond the arc for 34%. But the Keydets struggled from the line, going 8 of 20 from the stripe.
SVU went a perfect 23-23 from the line and shot 52.4% for the game-hitting 18-of-49 three-point attempts.
Williams missed his first career triple-double by scoring 36 points, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists.
"Fred (Robinson) shot the ball a lot better tonight," said Baucom. "Hopefully that will continue. He had some open looks and he made some, so hopefully that will help his confidence."
The busy week continues for VMI as it travels to Harrisonburg, Va. Wednesday night for a game with CAA foe James Madison at 7:00 p.m. The Keydets then close out the week Saturday night at Howard University at 7:00 p.m.
