LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI's Stan Okoye posted his fifth straight game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Keydets outlasted a strong Southern Virginia effort to earn a 99-87 victory over the Knights in a non-conference contest played at Cameron Hall Tuesday evening.
After battling through a close game all night, the Knights pulled to within three after a pair of Derek Cutler free throws with 4:49 to play. VMI launched an 8-1 run on the next possession, and SVU could not get closer than eight the rest of the way.
Okoye's 24 points led all scorers, as the Keydets overcame an early SVU lead to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The freshman also posted 11 rebounds, leading the home team in that category as well. VMI prevailed in spite of a double-double from the Knights' Cory Evans, who nearly equaled Okoye's effort with 23 points and 10 boards of his own.
With the victory, VMI moves to 7-12 on the season, while the Knights fall to 12-5.
SVU got off to a solid start, opening the contest with a 10-4 run over the first 3:38. Ade Swann had five straight points over the spurt, but VMI fired right back with a 9-0 run, capped by an Austin Kenon three-pointer, to take a 13-10 lead with 13:53 left in the opening half.
The Keydets held the lead for the next 11-plus minutes, but could only push the margin out to 12 points. The visitors stayed within single digits for the majority of the half, and when VMI increased its lead to 36-24 at the 6:49 mark, the Knights answered with a 14-1 run to retake the lead, 38-37 with just over two minutes left in the period. Okoye scored the final four points of the half, helping VMI to the locker room with a slim 41-38 advantage.
The first period saw SVU manage 18 points in the paint and get scoring from nine different players, while Okoye boosted the Keydets with 15 points to go along with Kenon's nine.
The second half opened with VMI gradually increasing its lead, as the Keydets pushed the lead to 11 with a jumper by Michael Sparks four minutes into the frame. Over the next five minutes, the Knights reduced their deficit to seven on two different occasions, but the home team went back up 12 after two Sparks free throws with 9:07 to play.
SVU had the answer yet again, starting a 13-4 run with a basket by DeWayne Beamon just five seconds after the Sparks points. The run was culminated with a layup by Cutler at 6:48, and the Knights were within three, setting the stage for the game's final minutes.
In addition to Okoye, the Keydets were paced by Kenon's 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. With those 18 markers, Kenon moved into the top 30 in VMI career points, now with 1,053 in his two-plus seasons. The Keydets also saw Sparks post 17 points, center Stephen Sargent contribute eight points and a career-best 10 rebounds, all while Burks had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. SVU was led by Evans' double-double and Swann's 17 points.
VMI will return to action Thursday night, as the Keydets travel across the Blue Ridge Mountains to Lynchburg to take on the Liberty Flames. Game time at the Vines Center is set for 7 p.m.
Quotes - VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
"We made a couple of stops at the end. Southern Virginia had a great crowd behind them, and they played very hard. Coach Pendleton does a great job with those guys. They can certainly hurt some people, especially on their division level."
"When we wanted to guard we did - and luckily we did the last three minutes - but it was optional before that, at least, that's the way it appeared from the sidelines."
"I thought Michael Sparks gave us a huge lift. He did a great job driving to the rim. Stan Okoye was special again, and Stephen Sargent finished a layup in the second half at the five minute mark when we really needed it. He played well tonight and did an excellent job."
