LEXINGTON, Va. - Junior Austin Kenon posted a career-high 38 points and the Keydets enjoyed a winning Senior Night as VMI defeated High Point, 91-84, in a Big South contest played Tuesday evening at Cameron Hall.
Kenon's 38 were the most points scored by a Keydet in a game this season and equaled the most points scored by a Big South player in 2009-10. The performance also tied him for 10th on the all-time single-game VMI scoring list, and moved the Virginia Beach native into 21st on the career scoring chart at the Institute. Tuesday's effort came on 9 of 18 shooting, as well as 14 of 15 from the foul line. The new career-best surpassed his former high (34), set in the final of last year's Big South Championship at Radford.
With the win, the Keydets move to 10-16, 5-11 in the Big South and continue to hold on to the final qualifying spot for the upcoming conference tournament. Despite 21 points from Nick Barbour and double-doubles from Cruz Daniels and Corey Law, HPU drops to 13-13 and 8-7 in Big South play,
The opening moments of the game favored the Keydets, particularly Kenon as he scored VMI's first 10 points and led the home team to a game-opening 13-5 run. A Michael Sparks three capped the spurt at 14:36, as the Keydets took the early advantage.
The visiting Panthers remained down by several points until, trailing 25-15, they launched a 15-0 run and took their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Nick Barbour at the 6:49 mark. The Keydets went 0 for 7 from the floor during the run, but VMI retook the advantage just three minutes later, as Kenon hit a triple to make the score 34-33. The Keydets maintained the edge into halftime, and held a 40-35 lead at the intermission.
Kenon paced the home team in the opening period with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 8 from three-point range, while the rest of the Keydets combined for just 19 points over the first 20 minutes of play. The Panthers were led by Law, who had eight points and five rebounds in the period.
The second half started slowly for both teams, as neither team could find the scoring touch for the opening two minutes. Law broke that drought for HPU, converting on a layup at the 18-minute mark to cut the deficit to 40-37. Back-and-forth play ensued, with VMI maintaining a slight edge until 14:13, when Keith Gabriel hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give the Keydets a 10-point margin, 59-49.
That was VMI's first double-digit lead since the aforementioned 25-15 cushion, but again, HPU fought back. Six unanswered points cut the deficit to four, 59-55, and as the teams traded baskets, the Panthers managed to stay within seven until the 8:31 mark. At that point, Ron Burks converted a driving layup, was fouled and nailed the ensuing free throw to push the lead to eight. The play sparked a 10-3 run for the Keydets, putting them up by 14.
The visitors could not get back within single digits until the closing moments, and cut the margin to five with just 25 seconds to play, but a pair of Kenon free throws iced the contest and sent the Keydets to their first Senior Night win since 2004-05, when VMI defeated High Point, 69-61.
In addition to Kenon's career night, the Keydets had double-figure scoring from Gabriel (18), Stan Okoye (13) and Sparks (10). Along with Barbour's team-high 21 points, the Panthers got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Daniels, while Law poured in 13 points and grabbed 13 caroms. VMI prevailed despite a 46-18 deficit in points in the paint and being outrebounded 48-33.
The Keydets return to action Feb. 25, as they travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
Quotes - VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
"Austin turned Senior Night into Junior Night. He was spectacular. He took a terrible fall last Saturday at Asheville and had to wear an elbow sleeve that he didn't want to. I told him he can't take it off now."
"We thought the keys to their team was Barbour and Harris. Barbour still ended up with 21, but I was proud of the guys. They matched up and a lot of people played different positions."
"We didn't make as many free throws as we did at High Point, but we got the ball into Austin's hands."
"We're just playing so much better lately. We've played better the last eight games. I think we're a much better team than we were a month ago. It all started at High Point, when the guys started believing in each other."
