Radford Hands VMI 77-69 Setback On Senior Night

Men's Basketball VMIKeydets.com

Radford Hands VMI 77-69 Setback On Senior Night

LEXINGTON, Va. ? Chris Oliver led four Radford double-figures scorers with 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Highlanders held off a second-half VMI rally to win, 77-69, and spoil the Keydets' Senior Night Thursday evening at Cameron Hall.

The Keydet loss ended any hopes for qualifying for a spot in next week's Big South Tournament which gets underway Tuesday. VMI closed the season with a 7-20 overall mark, 2-14 in the Big South.

Radford's win coupled with a High Point loss at Winthrop Thursday secured a first-round home game in the Big South Tournament next Tuesday. The Highlanders improved to 16-11, 9-6 BSC.

Oliver was joined in the double figures scoring ranks by Whit Holcomb-Faye (19), Andre Bynum (12), and Dan Ross (11).

VMI was bolstered by double-double efforts from forwards Reggie Williams and Matt Murrer, who both collected their seventh double-double games of the season. Williams produced his 10th 20-point of the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and Murrer scored 12 points with 14 rebounds, one off his career-high.

Chavis Holmes also scored 15 points for the Keydets on 6-of-10 shooting including 3-of-6 beyond the arc.

Oliver's double-double was his seventh of the season, but first since a Jan. 7 win at Liberty. The junior drained 10-of-18 shots including two treys and also blocked three shots.

Radford led 36-28 at the break and appeared poised for a second-half blowout when a Dan Ross 3-pointer at the 9:10 mark gave the Highlanders their biggest lead of 21 points, 64-43. But the Keydets responded with a 12-0 run, including six points by guard Travis Holmes, to start a comeback that culminated with a pair of Fred Robinson free throws that pulled the VMI within five points, 72-67 with 1:20 left.

That would be as close as VMI would come as the Keydets saw their next two trips down the floor end in turnovers. The Highlanders meanwhile hit five of six free throws, three by Holcomb-Faye, to put the game away.

The Highlanders canned 10-of-29 three-point shots while VMI hit just six-of-24 beyond the arc. Bynum led the Highlanders with four-of-six treys.

The Keydets held a 45-34 advantage on the boards, but VMI saw their five-game Senior Night win streak come to an end. Radford notched its third straight win and the fourth in the last five contests.

The game was the last in a Keydet uniform for seniors Preston Beverly and Tadas Mankevicius.

Radford shot 57.1% in the first half (15-of-29) but slowed to 38.2 % after intermission to finish 44.4% for the game. VMI was held to 37.7% from the field. The Keydets also missed five of 10 foul shots in the first half, and finished 17-of-25 for 68% while Radford nailed 11-of-15 free throws.

The Highlanders took a 12-11 edge in the series that began in 1976, and have won five of the last seven between the teams.
Print Friendly Version