LEXINGTON, Va. - Sophomore forward Joseph Harris scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, the last of which helped Coastal Carolina hold off VMI and post a 99-97 win at Cameron Hall in Lexington Monday night.
Harris who entered the game with a previous career-high of 19 points, eclipsed that in the first half when he scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field while draining seven free throws. Harris finished the game hitting 11 of 14 shots from the floor.
The loss dropped VMI, the nation's leading scoring team, to 7-12 overall and 1-3 in the Big South Conference.
CCU improved to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
VMI placed five in double figures scoring and was led by senior guard Fred Robinson, who followed a 31-point outing last Saturday against Charleston Southern with 25 points against the Chants with six three-pointers. Robinson has now connected on 15 treys over his last two games after nailing a school record nine against CSU Saturday.
Also scoring in double figures for the Keydets were senior forward Reggie Williams (19), sophomore guard Chavis Holmes (18), sophomore guard Travis Holmes (11), and senior forward Matt Murrer (10).
Also scoring in double figures for the Keydets were senior forward Reggie Williams (19), sophomore guard Chavis Holmes (18), sophomore guard Travis Holmes (11), and senior forward Matt Murrer (10).
VMI trailed, 85-75 with 6:32 left, but used a 17-6 run to take its first lead since early of the game when Chavis Holmes dunked off an Adam Lonon assist with 2:18 left to put VMI up, 92-91.
But freshman guard Joshua Mack hit two key runners, the last pushing the Chants ahead, 97-94, at the 1:03 mark. Chavis Holmes answered with a three to tie the game at 97-97 with 1:03 left and the Keydets forced a stop on the ensuing CCU possession. But Mack stripped the ball from Williams on the next possession and raced to the goal for a layup which was blocked by Travis Holmes, but Murrer was whistled for a loose ball foul with :09 remaining. CCU's Mario Sisinni made the first free throw, but missed the second, but Harris gobbled up the rebound and was fouled with :05 left and hit one of two free throws.
VMI attempted a contested three-pointer by Chavis Holmes for the win, but the 23-footer fell short at the buzzer.
The Chants were also led offensively by Mack (19 points) and junior Jack Leasure (17 points.)
VMI forced 27 Coastal turnovers and grabbed 23 offensive rebounds, but the Chants dominated inside, outscoring the Keydets, 58-37, in the paint while shooting 61% from the floor (37-61).
VMI's 14 three-point goals gave the Keydets 35 treys over the last two games.
The Keydets play their final non-conference game of the year when they face Bridgewater College Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina returns home Saturday to host Liberty at 7:00 p.m.
VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom - "We waited too long to start playing, that was the bottom line. It took us forever to get going. We were down 11 and then we just swapped baskets with them the first 10-12 minutes of the second half and finally kicked it in and got going and made some plays. I was very proud of Fred (Robinson). He had another breakout game and he's doing some special things and if he'll continue to do that - you know Reggie (Williams) was a bit off tonight and they ran double teams at him, he didn't have his stellar performance that he needed to. Joseph Harris taught us what energy is all about tonight. He was a madman and we didn't have an answer for him. Mack doesn't play like a freshman. He's a very good player. I hate we have to contend with him for three more years."
"This was very reminiscent of our James Madison game. You hold it for the last shot, you think the worst it's going to do is going overtime, and you just don't make a play."
"Dusty Pflugner got us going with those two threes and
Jack Castleberry was outstanding. He doesn't have very much to show for it on the stat line, but he played his brains out the entire game."
