SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The VMI Keydets led by two points with under two minutes to go, but the Wofford Terriers closed the game on a 7-0 run to steal a dramatic 75-70 win in Southern Conference men's basketball action Thursday night in Spartanburg, S.C.
After a nip and tuck game in which neither team led by more than seven, QJ Peterson gave VMI (5-11, 1-4) a 70-68 lead with 1:49 to go after hitting two free throws. On the next Wofford (12-4, 3-0) possession, however, Terrier standout Karl Cochran hit a three-pointer to take the lead back for good for his team. After a volley of free throw attempts had given the home team a 73-70 lead, Peterson had a three-point attempt to tie the game with six seconds to go, but could not convert and Wofford closed out the game at the line for the victory.
In the setback, Phillip Anglade had the strongest game of his collegiate career. Anglade scored a career-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added seven blocks, a total that made him the seventh Keydet in school history to go over the century mark in rejections. Peterson added 19 points for VMI while Tim Marshall chipped in 16.
Cochran scored 19 points to lead a quartet of Wofford players in double figures scoring.
VMI hit a season-low four 3-pointers for the game after identical 2-11 shooting in both halves, but outscored Wofford 42-26 in points in the paint. VMI also outrebounded the Terriers 40-31 and was 14-of-18 from the free throw line.
After spotting Wofford an early 7-2 lead, the Keydets reeled off seven unanswered points to take their first lead on a rebound dunk by Craig Hinton. John Swinton answered seconds later to pull the Terriers even and set the tone for the remainder of the half that eventually produced eight ties.
Wofford's biggest lead of the opening half was a seven-point margin after Cochran canned a pair of free throws at the 4:49 mark to put the hosts up 31-24. VMI countered quickly with a Peterson jumper and 3-pointer that was later followed by lay-ins by Anglade and Marshall –the later that tied the score at 33-33 with 2:44 left in the half.
Wofford guard Eric Garcia's outside shooting propelled the Terriers to a four-point lead at the half following back-to-back 3's over the last 1:02 and the sophomore finished four-of-four from the field including three treys.
VMI trailed by just a 41-37 count at the break despite the absence of the 3-point weapon. With Wofford crowding the arc, Anglade started his career-night with six of eight shooting for 12 points in the first half and grabbed five rebounds to help lead the Keydets to a 19-13 advantage on the boards. Peterson added 11 points in the first half and hit all six free throws.
The second half continued the back-and-forth pace of the first half with eight ties and two more lead changes with neither team leading by more than four points until the final minute of regulation. A jumper by Anglade matched VMI's biggest lead of the night – four points – and the Keydets held that margin as late as the 10:29 mark.
VMI trailed by four points, 68-64, on a jumper by Cochran at the 3:17 mark but, rallied to take their final lead following six straight points by Peterson including a pair of free throws that put the Keydets ahead, 70-68 with 1:49 left.
Cochran, who scored a career-high 33 points to rally Wofford back from a 14-point deficit to defeat Chattanooga Monday night, nailed a 3-pointer on the next trip down the floor that put Wofford ahead for good (71-70) with 1:31 remaining. The Keydets could not muster any more scoring as Anglade misfired on a 1-and-1 which was followed by a turnover and missed shots by Elleby and Peterson in the final minute. Wofford closed out the scoring with four straight free throws executed by Swinton and C.J. Neuman to remain perfect in conference play.
VMI continues the road trip Saturday afternoon at Furman. Tip-off is 4 p.m.
VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom –
“It's frustrating, we were right there and we outrebounded them and really hung tough for the most part. You have to make plays that matter and that's what Wofford has been doing. They have gone to the NCAA's three of the last five years because they've been able to make those winning plays. Karl Cochran is as advertised.”
“We had our chances but we didn't make enough plays. Phillip Anglade played his tail off and played really, really hard. All of the guys' effort was incredible.”
