CLINTON, S.C. - Al'Lonzo Coleman had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Presbyterian College Blue Hose shot nearly 60 percent from the field en route to a 94-74 win over the VMI Keydets in Big South basketball action Thursday night in Clinton, S.C.
Presbyterian College (11-13, 5-9 Big South) took command early, as after VMI (12-12, 7-7) had an early 6-2 lead, PC scored the game's next 11 points to lead by seven. VMI missed seven straight three-pointers at one early juncture of the contest, helping the Blue Hose out to a lead they would not reliquish for the remainder of the evening.
On the night, host Presbyterian shot 34 for 57 (59.6%), while VMI hit 23 of 57 from the floor (40.4%). The Keydets did drill 40 percent of their three-point tries, going 12 for 30 in that stat, while the Blue Hose managed 6 of 14 (42.9%). Coleman led PC with his double-double, while Keith Gabriel had 18 for the visitors to pace VMI. In addition, Michael Sparks had six points to surpass the 1,000 points scored mark for his career.
VMI made its first two baskets on Thursday night and held the early 6-2 lead, but Josh Johnson hit a three to make it a one-point game and start the game-turning run. When it was over, PC had a 13-6 cushion at the 15:52 mark. The home team stretched that margin to 10 some 3:45 later, going up 20-10 after two free throws by Khalid Mutakabbir.
The Keydets closed back within single digits after two free throws by Quinton Upshur, but the Blue Hose then went on a 7-0 run to go up by 15, 27-12. The home team would not lead by less than 12 until the 3:34 mark, when Ron Burks hit a three to pull VMI within 11, 39-28. That 11-point margin stayed consistent until halftime, as Presbyterian College held a 44-33 edge at the break.
The Keydets opened the second half well, scoring five of the first six points and cutting the lead to eight, 46-38, with 18:56 to play. Presbyterian pulled away briefly, but VMI closed back within single digits once again with 16:22 on the clock after a Stan Okoye three-pointer, 52-43. Unfortunately for the visitors, Coleman answered with two free throws, pushing the margin back to 11, and VMI could get no closer than 10 the rest of the way.
The Blue Hose took advantage of a 48-20 edge in points in the paint, and saw Johnson notch 22 points and Mutakabbir add 20 in support of Coleman's big night. Burks had 15 for VMI, while Jordan Weethee chipped in with 12 points.
VMI basketball is back in action Saturday, taking on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in Boiling Springs, N.C. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
"Presbyterian played very well. And we had a lot to do with that, I think. It was a matter of not taking care of our assignments. We started the game with two quick three's and our attitude was like we were going to cruise. We never set down and guarded anybody, and we didn't carry out our defensive rotation. It all worked out to be a very long night."
"We did a good job on (Al'Lonzo) Coleman the first time we faced him at Cameron Hall. Tonight it was like we didn't know he was the best player in the Big South. If you let him take 14 shots and he makes 10 of them, goes six-of-nine from the line, 26 points and 12 rebounds...he's good."
"We certainly need to play well at Gardner-Webb and do what we are supposed to do. It's a game with someone we're trying to improve our seeding against. It's frustrating because we should have played better tonight. We have to try to learn from it and be better when we play on Saturday."
