nussbaum vs richmond
Brian McWalters | RoadWin Photos
64
VMI VMI 1-2,0-0 SoCon
74
Winner South Carolina USC 3-0,0-0 SEC
VMI VMI
1-2,0-0 SoCon
64
Final
74
South Carolina USC
3-0,0-0 SEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
VMI VMI 33 31 64
South Carolina USC 41 33 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Second-half rally falls short in loss to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind career highs from senior DJ Nussbaum and freshman Tyran Cook, the VMI basketball team used a furious second-half rally in an upset bid over host South Carolina but fell short by a 74-64 score Monday night at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
 
The matchup was the opening segment of the Arizona Tip-Off for both teams as the schools will head to Phoenix, Arizona, this weekend to compete at the inaugural tournament. VMI will compete in the Desert Division and South Carolina will play in the Cactus Division.
 
Cook finished with 16 points to lead VMI – topping his prior best of 13 set the other night against Christendom – and Nussbaum ended up with 14 points to beat his previous career best of 10 points set against Richmond a week ago. Nussbaum played lights out in the opening half to match his career best 10 points in 20 minutes of play.


 
The Keydets (1-2) pulled within 12 points at the 11:45 mark of the second half following a three by senior Devin Butler. With 3:11 in the game, VMI drew within 11 off a Cook and-1 conversion, and within 10 points with 2:30 remaining following a corner three by freshman Koree Cotton.
 
VMI then pulled with single digits (8) with 1:31 left in regulation after a Cook jumper, and again within eight points with 47 seconds left after a layup by Brennan Watkins, but the Keydets could come no closer as the Gamecocks (3-0) earned the hard-fought victory on its home court.
 
Key Stats
*Career-high point totals from Cook (16) and Nussbaum (14)
*VMI guard Taeshaud Jackson II earned a team-high 11 boards for the Keydets
*Freshman Koree Cotton also scored in double figures and finished with 10 points on the night
*Wofford transfer BJ Mack led the Gamecocks with a game-high 17 points and 13 rebounds
*VMI outshot South Carolina in field goal percentage, 42%-35%
*South Carolina won the rebounding battle with 21 offensive boards leading to 12 second-chance points. VMI had 11 offensive boards leading to six second chance points
*16 VMI turnovers led to 14 fast-break points for the Gamecocks
 
VMI head coach Andrew Wilson
"I'm so proud of our guys coming into an SEC environment with nine freshmen and getting close to putting a lot of game pressure on them. I told the guys after the game that I want this outcome to do two things – build our confidence and make us hungrier. I want them to realize how special this group can be.  
 
"We had our two best practices of the year prior to this game, and I'm not surprised at the way we played."


 
Up Next
The Keydets travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to participate in the inaugural Arizona Tip-Off tournament. VMI will face South Dakota in the opening game of the Desert Division Friday at 2 p.m. EST. More information can be found at https://www.arizonatipoff.com/. 
 
 



 
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