Gilkeson Posts Career-High 22 Points but Samford Outlasts VMI 78-75

LEXINGTON, Va. – Despite a career-high of 22 points and a season-best 10 rebounds from senior guard Garrett Gilkeson, Samford University defeated the VMI men's basketball team 78-75 Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference play.

The Keydets trailed by as many as 14 late in the second half and were down 74-65 with just over two minutes to play. Four free throws from freshman Travis Evee and a three-pointer from Gilkeson cut the edge to 75-72. The Bulldogs made one of two free throws with nine seconds on the game clock, and Evee countered with a trey to cut the lead to 76-75 with five seconds left. Josh Sharkey was fouled and converted both free throws to extend the Samford lead to three, and VMI couldn't get off a potential game-tying three-pointer as time expired.

Gilkeson nailed 5-of-7 from distance and added five assists. Evee finished with a team-best 24 points, hitting 6-of-9 threes to go with five helpers. Greg Parham had seven points and five assists and Jake Stephens contributed five points, four rebounds and a blocked shot. Tyler Creammer grabbed eight boards.

VMI has hit 10 or more threes in eight of the last 11 games. Today's total of 16 tied the third most in the season. Evee has hit six three-pointers in three of the last four games and had five treys in the second half Saturday. He has five 20-point games on the year.

VMI led 40-37 at intermission and opened a 47-41 advantage with 15 minutes left. A 26-6 Bulldog run (including an over five-minute Keydet scoreless stretch) over the next 10 minutes opened a 67-53 Samford lead. Samford made nine-straight shots at one point during the 26-6 surge.

Sharkey paced Samford (8-8/2-0 SoCon) with 25 points, 10 assists and three steals. Donte Tatum had 16 points and six caroms while Jalen Dupree tallied 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Robert Allen chipped in with 11 points and six boards.   

The visitors shot just 16.7 percent (2-12) in the game's first 20 minutes but connected on 50 percent (4-8) from deep in the second half. Samford also had a decided edge in attempts from the free-throw line, sinking 16-of-25 compared to 5-of-5 from VMI, all in the last five minutes of the game.  

The Keydets (5-11/0-3) host Western Carolina University Wednesday at 7 p.m. in additional SoCon action.

Quotes from head coach Dan Earl:

"We did come back but, unfortunately, too little, too late. We went through that dry spell in the second half which really hurt us. Their press bothered us some and we have to be tougher coming to the ball and making better decisions. I think overall that was the key - making better decisions. Any time a team presses you try to make them pay for it, but you have to do it within the flow of your offense."

"We had way too many turnovers - 16 - we just weren't taking care of the ball. Something we have to learn from and be better next time."

"(Josh) Sharkey no doubt was a tough cover and a heck of a player. He really affects the game with his scoring and finding guys. We have to learn how to play tougher defense without fouling."

"Garrett Gilkeson affects the game in a variety of ways. Certainly he played a good overall game and Travis Evee scores the ball for us as well. We need to figure out some more scoring consistency with some other guys who had some rough shooting days and we had some open looks. We have to knock those shots down."