VMI heads to the inaugural Arizona Tip-Off

Game Notes

LEXINGTON, Va. – Heading to the Grand Canyon State for the first time in program history, the VMI basketball team will play its latter two games of the inaugural Arizona Tip-Off Friday and Saturday at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The Keydets (1-2) will face South Dakota Friday at 2 p.m. EST as part of the Desert Division bracket before taking on the winner or loser of Northern Arizona and Purdue Fort Wayne Saturday at either 2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. EST.

VMI's matchup with South Carolina on Monday night – a close 74-64 loss - marked the opening game of the tournament for both teams. The Gamecocks were slotted to play in the Cactus Division.

More information on the tournament and bracket schedules can be found at https://www.arizonatipoff.com/. The Desert Division will not have its games broadcast on television, while the Cactus Division games can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

Broadcast Information
VMI vs. South Dakota – Friday, Nov. 17 – 2 p.m. EST | Live Stats
VMI vs. N. Arizona/Purdue Fort Wayne – Saturday, Nov. 18 – 2 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. EST | Live Stats

A win over South Dakota would ...
--- Be the first ever win over the Coyotes as the schools have never met
--- Be VMI's first win over a Summit League opponent since defeating South Dakota State, 104-89, on Nov. 12, 2006, as part of the BCA Classic hosted by Ohio State
--- Be VMI's second win of the season and first neutral site victory of the year

Quick Hits
* VMI is coming off a hard-fought 74-64 loss to SEC foe South Carolina Monday night on the road. Freshman Tyran Cook led the way with a season-high 16 points and senior center DJ Nussbaum poured in a career-hight 14 points.
* Last week, VMI earned its first win of the year by defeating Christendom College by an 87-53 count at home. Freshman Koree Cotton earned a season-high 17 points in the win.
* Traditionally a strong three-point shooting team, VMI is ranked third in the league after three games in three-pointers made (22) and third in 3-point field goal percentage (.355).

LAST TIME OUT - November 13, 2023 - South Carolina 74, VMI 64 - 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, in the opening segment of the inaugural Arizona Tip-off.
     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.

Last Time vs. South Dakota - First meeting
Last Time vs. Northern Arizona - First meeting
Last Time vs. Purdue Fort Wayne - March 22, 2014 - VMI 106, Purdue Fort Wayne 95 - Lexington, Va.
    Behind a record-setting day from senior forward D.J. Covington, the VMI basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament as VMI topped Purdue Fort Wayne, 106-95, on Saturday, Mar. 22, 2014.
   Covington set the single-game record for a CIT tournament game with 41 points. The forward was efficient going 16 of 21 from the field in just 26 minutes on the court. Covington was also nine for 12 from the free throw line en route to being the first Keydet to surpass 40 points in a game since Reggie Williams did so on Jan. 8, 2008.

VMI Leaders in the SoCon Rankings
Team
3rd - 3PT FG Percent. - .355
3rd - 3PT FG Made - 22
4th - FG Percentage - .464
4th - Rebounds - 41.7
4th - Def. Rebs. - 30.7

Brennan Watkins
6th - Assists - 3.0
6th - Assist/TO Ratio - 1.8

Taeshaud Jackson II
2nd - Rebounding - 10.7

Tyran Cook
4th - FG Percentage - .500

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#42 DJ Nussbaum: C; 6' 9"; Junior

#1 Brennan Watkins: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II: G; 6' 4"; Freshman

#0 Tyran Cook: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#42 DJ Nussbaum
: 6' 9"; Junior
: C

#1 Brennan Watkins
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: G

#0 Tyran Cook
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

VMI Athletics

Scoreboard

VMI heads to the inaugural Arizona Tip-Off

Players Mentioned

#42 DJ Nussbaum

#1 Brennan Watkins

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#0 Tyran Cook

Players Mentioned

#42 DJ Nussbaum

#1 Brennan Watkins

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#0 Tyran Cook