MACON, Ga. ? Junior guard Chavis Holmes hit a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left and scored 11 points in the last 1:40 of regulation to lift VMI to a come-from-behind 102-99 victory over Mercer University in college basketball action Wednesday night in Macon, Ga.
VMI senior forward Reggie Williams tied a University Center facility record for most points for an opponent and finished with 29 points on 12 of 24 shooting from the floor and also grabbed 11 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of his career and seventh of the season.
The Keydets (7-6), who have won four of their last five, also got 24 points from Chavis Holmes while twin brother Travis Holmes added 22 points hitting eight of 12 shots from the field and going five of eight from the line. Freshman guard Austin Kenon scored 15 points all coming on 3-point shots including four treys in the second half.
Mercer placed five in double figures scoring and was led guard Shaddean Aaron who finished with a game-high 30 points while sophomore guard James Florence added 18 points for the Bears (5-8).
VMI won its first game of the New Year in its first test since knocking off East Tennessee State on the road on January 2, 1999.
The Keydets trailed 98-96 entering the final minute of regulation but started the comeback when a Williams steal set up a trip to the free throw line by C. Holmes with 52.7 seconds left. Holmes drained the two free throws to tie the score at 98-98. The Keydets forced another turnover on the ensuing possession, but Travis Holmes was whistled for a loose ball foul following a Kenon miss with :11 left. Mercer's Brian Mills converted one of two free throws to put the Bears ahead 99-98.
The Keydets worked the ball quickly front court and with defenders converging, Kenon spotted Chavis Holmes in the left corner and dished for what would be the game winner, a baseline trey from the left wing with 4.6 left.
Mercer then threw a long pass into the front court that was then picked off by Travis Holmes who was fouled with 2.2 remaining. Holmes hit one of two free throws forcing the Bears to make a three to force overtime, but Aaron's desperation 40-footer from the right sideline fell short as the buzzer sounded.
The game mirrored last year's high-scoring, high tempo contest between the schools, a 105-103 Mercer win at Cameron Hall. Wednesday's game saw 14 ties and 12 lead changes and neither team held more than a seven-point lead.
VMI shot 36% in the first half but heated up to 53.5% after intermission, thanks to sharp 3-point shooting including four straight treys by Kenon which helped give VMI an 80-74 lead following a 12-4 scoring run that ended with seven minutes left in the game. Aaron rallied the Bears by scoring ten straight points to key a 18-8 Mercer run that put the Bears ahead 90-86 with 1:49 left but back-to-back 3-pointers by Chavis Holmes at the 1:40 and 1:36 marks brought the Keydets back within striking distance into the final minute.
VMI head coach Duggar Baucom ? “There was a lot of heart there at the end. Our backs were against the wall and we made plays down the stretch. Reggie (Williams) was a different player in the second half. He was spectacular scoring and also on the boards. That was the tempo we like to play. It was nice to play a team that was not playing Princeton and slowdown. They (Mercer) have some talent. It's tough to face a guard better than James Florence. He can play in the SEC. He's that good. The job Adam Lonon did on him defensively was stellar. We kept our turnovers down and we finally made a game winner that counted. Chavis Holmes- a big shot. Credit Austin Kenon, the freshman had what we call “next ones”. He had the open shot but he passed up a good shot to give Chavis a great shot. We do that drill every day in practice and it was neat that Chavis knocked it down. He was special in the second half.”
