WASHINGTON, D.C. - Howard converted nine of 10 free throws in the final 1:45 to hold off a VMI rally and post a 116-111 victory over the Keydets Saturday night at Burr Gymnasium.

Eugene Myatt scored 41 points and Darryl Hudson, who hit six straight from the line in the waning minutes, added 28 for the Bison (2-4).

The Keydets got 30 points from junior forward Reggie Williams, who posted his fourth 30-point game of the season. Sophomore guard Travis Holmes added 24 includng six 3-pointers for the Keydets, who dropped their second straight and fell to 3-4 overall and 0-2 on their current five-game road swing.

Howard built an 18-point second half lead, then had to withstand a barrage of Keydet second-half three's to hold on for the win as VMI sank 13 treys after intermission. The Bison led 89-71 following a pair of Jerron Smith free throws at the 9:35, but Fred Robinson, who finished with 14 second-half points on his way to a 16-point night, canned a trey at the 9:22 mark to start VMI's rally.

The Keydets sliced the lead to 103-101 on a Chavis Holmes layup with 3:22 left, and tied the game for the 11th time on a Travis Holmes trey from the right wing that made it 107-107.

But Hudson started the first of his six straight free throws five seconds later and put the Bison ahead by canning a pair at the 1:49 to put Howard ahead, 109-107.

A Williams trey with :10 left pulled VMI within two, 113-111, but the Bison hit 3 of 4 from the stripe to keep distance.

VMI shot 46.7% from the floor (43-92) but hit an impressive 19 of 42 beyond the arc for 45.2%. The Keydets forced 30 Bison turnovers but only got to the line 12 times, hitting six while Howard converted 20 of 28 from the stripe.

The Bison shot 69.7% for the game, converting fast break layups to build their second-half lead before the Keydets rallied down the stretch. Howard attempted just six treys, but drained four.

Howard opened the game using an early 10-0 spurt to build a 17-8 lead, but VMI answered to tie the game at 21-21 on a Williams bucket at the 12:10 mark. There were eight ties and nine lead changes before VMI finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 52-47 lead at the half.


The Keydets also got double figures scoring efforts from Matt Murrer (19), Fred Robinson (16) and Chavis Holmes (14).

VMI travels to West Point Tuesday night to face Army at 7:00 p.m.