WEST POINT, N.Y. ? Trailing by 14 points with less than 15 minutes remaining, VMI went on a 21-4 run that propelled the Keydets to a 62-55 victory over Army at Christl Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The win gives VMI (9-2) its eighth win in their last nine games, the program's best such run since 1990.
Army (3-8) forced VMI into one of its worst halves of the season in the game's opening stanza, with the Keydets shooting only 4-of-22 (18.2%) and committing 13 turnovers. The visitors, however, trailed only 23-20 at the intermission, coming back late in the half after the Black Knights used a 7-0 run to take a 21-14 advantage with three minutes remaining.
Army came out in the second half firing, using a 16-5 run to gain a 39-25 advantage with 14:15 remaining.
Less than a minute later, VMI head coach Duggar Baucom was called for a technical foul, however, the Keydets caught a break as Cleveland Richard missed both free throws.
That turned the tide for the Keydets, as Willie Bell, playing with four fouls, hit a three-pointer with 12:43 remaining. Over the next five minutes, VMI hit six more three-pointers to account for all of the scoring during the 21-4 run, taking a 46-43 lead when Keith Gabriel hit his third-straight three-pointer with 7:30 remaining.
VMI maintained its lead over the next four minutes, despite Army cutting the deficit to 53-52 on a pair of John Moonshower free throws with 2:57 left. Following a Travis Holmes layup, the Keydets forced a five-second count on the inbound, leading to a three-pointer by Austin Kenon. After a Holmes steal, Bell's put-back layup gave the Keydets an 60-52 lead, giving VMI an insurmountable lead with less than a minute remaining.
VMI shot 52% from the field and 53% from the three-point line in the decisive second half, pouring in 10-of-19 from beyond the arc. The Keydets also held a 38-34 advantage in rebounds for the game, marking the first Division I opponent that VMI has out-rebounded this season.
Despite not having a player score in double figures in the first half, the Keydets ended up with four players with at least 10 points in the final box score. Kenon wrapped up his day with a game-high 19 points on six three-pointers, while Gabriel contributed 16 points and five three-pointers off the bench. Both Bell and Chavis Holmes had 10 points, while freshman Ron Burks had a season-best 11 rebounds in the win.
Sunday's win marked the fewest points the Keydets have scored in a victory under head coach Duggar Baucom in his four years in Lexington. The last time the Keydets won when scoring this few points was on Feb. 21, 2004, when VMI defeated Liberty, 61-52.
In the contest, freshman guard Michael Sparks did not play for medical reasons.
The Keydets scored only their second win at Christl Arena in five tries, and improved to 3-6 all-time against Army. It also improved VMI to 4-2 on the road this season and continued the team's best start since 1976-77.
The Keydets return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 31, playing host to Richmond at 7 p.m. at Cameron Hall. The game will be televised on MASN.
Quotes --- VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom:
“That's as crazy a game as I've been in as a head coach. Credit the kids. They rose up and got some five-second counts and hit some threes. Austin Kenon and Keith Gabriel were unbelievable. Chavis played hard all the minutes he played and I'm proud of all of them. That was a well-earned victory. I was pleased with the defensive stops we got down the stretch and we forced some pressure. They (Army) did as good a job as anyone making us work for everything. To come in here and outrebound then by four is pretty remarkable when you consider we haven't rebounded anybody all year. It's our fourth road win and that's a credit to our guys.”
Keydet Quick Hits
? VMI is now 9-0 this season when scoring more points off turnovers than their opponents. Against Army, the Keydets held a 25-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
? Sunday's game marked VMI's first win this season when trailing at halftime.
? The Keydets are 5-0 this season in the month of December. Since coming to VMI, Duggar Baucom is 16-9 in December games.
? Over the past four seasons, VMI is now 4-0 in road games just before Christmas break.
? The Keydets have now forced at least 20 turnovers in each game this season and have not committed more miscues than its opponents in a game this year.
