Playing without its top two scorers, VMI got career highs from Austin Kenon (26 pts.), Hunter Houston (18 pts.) and Willie Bell (17 pts.) to score a 93-90 win over Charleston Southern on Monday evening.

VMI (12-2, 4-0 Big South) won its eighth-straight outing and 11th in 12 games, while also improving to 6-2 on the road this season.  Charleston Southern (5-8, 1-2 Big South) dropped its fifth straight game overall.

The Keydets were without the services of both leading scorer Chavis Holmes, due to a stomach ailment, and second-leading scorer Travis Holmes, who continues to be listed as day-to-day with a knee issue.  VMI, however, hit 15 three-pointers while committing only 10 turnovers in winning its fifth-straight over the Bucs.

With just under seven minutes remaining, CSU sophomore Jamarco Warren, the Big South's leading scorer, converted a three-point play to give the Bucs a 75-72 advantage.  VMI answered with a 12-2 run over the next three minutes, including back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Sparks and Houston.  That gave the visitors an 84-77 lead with less than four minutes to go.

CSU scored the next four points, cutting the margin to 84-81 with just two-and-a-half minutes remaining.  The Bucs began to foul the Keydets at that point, and VMI would hit 9-of-12 free throws, including 6-of-8 shooting by Bell, the rest of the way.

The Bucs, however, inched closer as the game progressed, getting the ball down by three with 15 seconds remaining.  Omar Carter missed a pair of three-pointers in the closing seconds, as the Keydets corralled the final rebound to secure the win.

Kenon's career-best 26 points came on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-9 marksmanship from beyond the arc.  Houston's 18-point performance came in the first game that he has played this season, as he shot 5-of-8 on three-pointers, while Bell wrapped up his most complete game this season with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds.  Freshman Ron Burks chipped in with nine points and nine rebounds, while Michael Sparks chipped in eight points despite leaving the contest in the first half to receive stitches above his eyebrow following a collision.

Leading the way for the Bucs was Warren with 22 pts., while Giedrius Knysas contributed 16 pts.  Kelvin Martin had 12 pts. and 13 reb., while Joel Lamb finished with 11 pts. and 10 reb.

CSU shot 50.8% (31-of-61) from the field and 91.7% (22-of-24) from the free throw line in the contest.  The Bucs also held a 41-32 advantage on the boards, however, VMI outscored CSU 15-12 in second chance points.  VMI also held leads in points off turnovers (19-11) and bench scoring (33-19).

The Keydets put their 6-0 home mark on the line on Saturday afternoon, playing host to Coastal Carolina at Cameron Hall at 1 p.m.

Head Coach Duggar Baucom- 

"What a gutty performance, that's as satisfying a win as I've ever had.  We told them before the game at shootaround that we were going to find a way to get it done."

"I was most impressed with the parade to the foul line at the end.  To step up and make those shots, that's not easy to do."

"I'm so proud of Hunter.  He's practiced as hard as he could all semester, knowing that he couldn't play.  We'd go off on road trips and leave him in barracks.  But tonight, he really showed what kind of player that he is."

"Everybody gave us great minutes tonight.  With 38 points sitting on the bench in Chavis and Travis, for that group to go out and score 93, that's something those guys will remember for a long time."

"It's been an unbelievable trip.  We call these guys the road warriors, and they held to their name tonight."