CLINTON, S.C.- Using its deliberate style of play, the Presbyterian Blue Hose held VMI to its lowest scoring output of the year and defeated the Keydets, 63-57, Monday night at Templeton Arena.
The Keydets dropped their second straight game for the first time this year and fell to 20-6 and 11-4 in the Big South Conference. VMI also fell two games behind Radford in the race for the regular season championship as the Highlanders knocked off Charleston Southern Monday night in North Charleston.
Forward Chase Holmes scored 24 points and hit 10 of 17 shots from the field to lead Presbyterian to its eight conference win against seven losses. Overall, the Blue Hose moved to 11-15 on the season.
VMI trailed 27-15 at the break after a first half that saw the Keydets shoot 19.2% from the floor and commit 11 turnovers.
After spotting the Blue Hose an opening second half bucket which dropped them to their largest deficit of 14 points, VMI mounted a comeback and outscored Presbyterian 20-10 over the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Keydets eventually knotted the score at 40-40 on a Chavis Holmes driving layup at the 8:34 mark.
But the Blue Hose responded by scoring the next nine points over the next 3:19 to regain momentum. The run started with a 3-pointer by forward Josh Johnson, a pair of free throws by guard Pierre Miller, a jumper from forward Travis Sligh, and a jumper from Chase Holmes that pushed Presbyterian ahead, 49-40 with 5:05 left.
VMI closed the gap to two points, 50-47, following a pair of free throws by Chavis Holmes with 2:32 left. But Presbyterian's Alonzo Coleman began a parade at the free throw line that saw the Blue Hose nail 12 of 14 free throws over the last 2:15 of regulation which slammed the door shut on hopes of a VMI comeback.
Chavis Holmes led VMI in scoring with 19 points and freshman forward Ron Burks added a career-high 15 points including four 3-pointers giving him nine treys over the last three games.
VMI labored through its most lackluster first half of the season that produced the lowest scoring half of the season. The Keydets went scoreless for a stretch of nearly 10 minutes before guard Austin Kenon converted one if the two free throws with 2:35 left in the first half.
VMI returns home Saturday to face Radford at 4:00 p.m. The game at Cameron Hall will be televised by MASN.
Quotes --- VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom:
“It's was a total embarrassment. We did come back in the second half but we had no choice. You're either going to get beat by 30 or you are going to come back. We weren't in the right frame of mind when we stepped in here and we hadn't been since the Coastal game.”
“Credit Presbyterian. They just outworked us, outhustled us, outplayed us, outshot us, and outscored us.”
“We were too busy turning it over in the first half and we just let them beast us around.”
“Ron Burks played his tail off. But that's Ron. That's what you are going to get from him. There has not been a game this year where I have questioned his effort or heart.”
“I thought tonight was worse than Jacksonville State ? our effort and preparation. It's totally on my shoulders because this is my team. We'll get some things straightened out, I promise you that.”
