stephens vs. wofford - 2022 socon tourney
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Men's Basketball

VMI Falls to Wofford in SoCon Tournament Quarterfinals

Box Score Box Score

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Max Klesmit converted a go-ahead three-point play with seven seconds left to lead No. 4 seed Wofford past No. 5 VMI, 68-66, on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville. 
 
The first 6:15 of the game saw three lead changes and six ties as neither team jumped to an early lead. A quick 8-0 spurt gave the Terriers the first substantial lead of the game with 12:18 remaining in the half. The teams traded baskets for several minutes as Wofford maintained its lead until VMI used an 8-0 run of its own to go up 34-33 late in the half. Each team added a pair of points before time expired and the Keydets held a 36-35 advantage at halftime.
 
The Keydets held onto the lead for just over six minutes into the second half, but the Terriers were chipping away and eventually took the lead, 50-49, and ran with it as the teams had less than 11 minutes left to play. Wofford worked its way to 57-51 advantage and held off a VMI comeback, 57-56, before hitting back-to-back treys to go up seven, 63-56. The Keydets were not deterred and embarked on a 10-2 run lasting 3:05 to take a 66-65 lead. With seven ticks left on the clock, Klesmit sank a layup for the Terriers and connected on the subsequent free throw to put Wofford up 68-66. The Terriers stopped a last-second attempt from the Keydets to hold on for the win. 
 
Morgan Safford led Wofford with a season-high 17 points and a team-high four assists. Klesmit netted 15 points while B.J. Mack notched his fifth double-double of the season with 15 point and 10 rebounds to round out the double-digit efforts for the Terriers. Jake Stephens led the Keydets with 23 points, while Trey Bonham added 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Honor Huff also dished out a game-high five assists for VMI.
 
VMI head coach Dan Earl postgame quotes:
"Obviously a really hard-fought game.  Credit to Wofford, I thought they did a tremendous job.  They're a program I admire tremendously. … They made it tough on us defensively.  I thought they did a really good job.  They're both tough physically and they're a very sound team defensively. … Super proud of our group. Obviously, we would have wanted the game to end a different way, but our guys kept battling and battling. … I am proud of our program, where we have come from and how we have built it.  I don't think most people look at us and think, 'We are going to beat VMI easily.' … I would like to thank our seniors, Connor Arnold and this guy, Jake Stephens, just a phenomenal young man."
 
On the physical nature of the game and the number of foul calls
"In the game of basketball, sometimes it's officiated a little closer and sometimes it is like tonight where a lot of stuff was let go. … I have a tremendous amount of respect for Wofford and what they do and how they carry their program and how hard they play. … Sports are tough … the emotions are incredible but someone wins and someone loses and unfortunately today was not our day."
 
On next season
"We pride ourselves on getting better. … Hopefully we'll have some other guys step up this next season."
 
Senior center Jake Stephens
On coming back after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury
"I noticed a few little things like not enough lift on my shot, but as far as affecting the game otherwise I like to believe we pride ourselves on passing the ball, so we continued to do that. Unfortunately, it ended with five turnovers so we did not take care of it the way we like to."
 
On the legacy he wants to leave
"I'd like to think if you play every game with a chip on your shoulder you always have a chance. We all come in as freshman and we are not the most highly recruited kids we're not always the most talented group, but if you come in the gym and work hard you can make yourself something special."
 
3 STATS TO KNOW
- Wofford won the turnover battle, committing eight turnovers to VMI's 11, while also recording nine steals. The Terriers made the most of those opportunities, scoring 18 points off turnovers.
- The Keydets shot 46.3 percent from the field, including 35.5 percent from behind the 3-point line, while the Terriers connected on 41.7 percent of their shots, including 32.1 percent from behind the arc.
- Wofford, which has averaged 31.4 rebounds per game this season, pulled down 36 rebounds and outrebounded VMI 36-30.
 
2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship
Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
 
Friday, March 4 (ESPN+)
Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 84, (8) ETSU 76
Game 2 - (7) Mercer 81, (10) Western Carolina 53
 
Saturday, March 5 (ESPN+/Nexstar)
Game 3 - (1) Chattanooga 71, (9) The Citadel 66
Game 4 - (4) Wofford 68, (5) VMI 66
Game 5 - (2) Furman vs. (7) Mercer, 6 p.m.
Game 6 - (3) Samford vs. (6) UNCG, 8:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 6 (ESPNU)
Game 7 – (1) Chattanooga vs. (4) Wofford, 4 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6:30 p.m.
 
Monday, March 7 (ESPN)
Championship game, 7 p.m.
 
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.
 
-www.SoConSports.com-
 





 
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Players Mentioned

Connor Arnold

#21 Connor Arnold

F
6' 7"
Junior
Jake Stephens

#34 Jake Stephens

C
6' 10"
Junior
Trey Bonham

#2 Trey Bonham

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Honor Huff

#3 Honor Huff

G
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Connor Arnold

#21 Connor Arnold

6' 7"
Junior
F
Jake Stephens

#34 Jake Stephens

6' 10"
Junior
C
Trey Bonham

#2 Trey Bonham

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Honor Huff

#3 Honor Huff

5' 10"
Freshman
G