LEXINGTON, Va.- Junior forward Reggie Williams scored 31 points and VMI nailed a school record 22 three-point goals in a 135-75 victory over Lees-McRae College Wednesday night at Cameron Hall.
VMI shot a season-high 54.4% from the floor, hitting 49 of 90 shots, including 22 of 49 beyond the arc. The made three's eclipsed the single game record of 21 set Nov. 15 against Virginia Intermont.
The Keydets snapped a five-game losing streak to move to 4-7 on the season while Lees-McRae fell to 3-4.
VMI placed five in double figures scoring. Joining Williams were sophomore guard Travis Holmes, who scored a career-high 28 points on 10-16 shooting including 6-11 from long range, senior forward Matt Murrer who matched his career-high of 25 points, sophomore guard Chavis Holmes, who also canned six treys in a 21-point effort, and sophomore forward Willie Bell who finished with a career-high 15 points and eight rebounds.
Lees-McRae was led in scoring by senior guard Aaron Duggar who scored 25 points on nine of 16 shooting including 5 three-point goals. Senior forward Henry Williams had 17 points and guard D.J. Menifee added 10 points.
VMI never trailed in the contest. A Duggar three-pointer tied the game at 8-8 three minutes in the first half, but the Keydets responded with a 27-6 run over the next seven minutes to break the game open. The Keydets led 70-38 at the break and never saw the advantage fall below 40 points over the last 10 minutes of regulation.
"That's the best we've shot it, by far," said VMI head coach Duggar Baucom. "We've had open looks this year and have not knocked them down, but tonight, the way Travis and Chavis shot, it was unbelievable. That was the difference, we knocked down open shots and we can build on that."
VMI freshman point guard Adam Lonon dished out 10 assists, just one shy of his career-high 11 against Virginia Intermont.
Williams also grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds and reached the 30-point plateau in a game for the sixth time this season. The Keydets, who entered the game as the nation's leading scoring team, hit triple digits for the fifth time this season.
"I thought we did a good job on the boards with 23 offensive rebounds and that was a very good Division II team," said Baucom. "They beat the 19th ranked team in the country last week (Mt. Olive), Scott Polsgrove is a very good coach. We just took them out of anything they wanted to do. I credit the guys' energy - being back home, it's a lot easier to play with energy."
Senior guard Fred Robinson (ankle) and freshman forward Carl Josey (back) did not suit for the game but are expected to return for this weekend's action.
VMI resumes action Saturday at Cameron Hall against Mercer at 1:00 p.m. Plans are being finalized to provide live video in addition to regular audio streaming of Saturday's game through The Edge located at bigsouthsports.com. Check www.vmikeydets.com or bigsouthsports.com Friday for further information.
