corps of cadets
Paul Bouis

Men's Basketball

VMI to face American at home Saturday

Game Notes
 
LEXINGTON, Va. – Playing at home for a third consecutive weekend, the VMI basketball team will face American University Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cameron Hall.
 
A special surprise is in store for fans as Santa Claus is in town and ready for pictures in the main lobby before and during the game.
 
Fans can purchase tickets at the following Ticket Return link.
 
Broadcast Information
VMI vs. American – Saturday, Dec. 9 – 1 p.m.                        Watch on ESPN+  |  Live Stats
 
 
Series History: VMI vs. American (0-3)
Saturday's game marks just the fourth all-time meeting between VMI and American University with the Eagles holding an undefeated 3-0 all-time series advantage dating back to 2017. Last season, American earned a close 69-61 win over the Keydets on its home court in Washington, D.C. as the Keydets look to put an end to the skid and win for the first time over American.
 
QUICK HITS
* The Keydets are coming off a close 75-71 loss to Presbyterian College this past Saturday.
* VMI is the top rebounding team in the Southern Conference, ranking first in rebounds per game (41.3), including first in defensive (30.2) and third in offensive boards per game (11.1). Also rank fourth in rebounding margin at 5.2.
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 11.0 per game for second most in the SoCon
* One of the top teams shooting from beyond the arc, the Keydets rank fourth in the SoCon in three-point field goal percentage at .337
* While VMI looks to improvie as a team in free-throw percentage, junior Brennan Watkins ranks first in the league at .897 from the charity stripe. He also ranks fifth in the SoCon in 3PT field goals/game (2.3) and tenth overall in the league individual standings in scoring (14.8)
 
A WIN OVER AMERICAN WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's first ever win over the Eagles (0-3 all-time series)
--- Be VMI's first win over a Patriot League opponent since defeating Navy last season in Lexington
--- Be VMI's third win of the season and first Division I victory of the year
 
LAST TIME OUT - December 2, 2023 - Presbyterian 75, VMI 71 - Lexington, Va.
    The VMI basketball team led by eight points with just over six minutes left to play, but Presbyterian College rallied for a 75-71 win last Saturday afternoon in non-conference action from Cameron Hall.
    Presbyterian led 36-32 at intermission, but VMI opened the second half with an 18-7 run to go ahead 50-43 with 14:45 on the game clock. Junior guard Brennan Watkins drilled two three pointers during the stretch. The Keydets held a 62-54 lead with 6:14 left, but the Blue Hose closed out the game with a 21-9 surge.
     Watkins matched his career-best with five treys, and finished with 20 points and five assists. Taeshaud Jackson II grabbed a season and game-high 14 rebounds to go with nine points, nearly recording his ninth career double-double.
 
LAST TIME vs. AMERICAN- Dec. 13, 2022 - American 69, VMI 61 - Washington, D.C.
     The VMI basketball team fought its way to contention the entire contest but ultimately fell to host American University by a 69-61 score Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.
     The Keydets (5-7, 0-0) stayed with the Eagles (8-2, 0-0) throughout but allowed American to build a 14-point advantage early in the second half that proved insurmountable. The Keydets trailed by just six at the break by a 35-29 count.
   VMI tallied 30 points in the paint to American's 18 and logged 11 points off turnovers to the Eagles' eight, but depth became an issue as American tallied 19 points off the bench to VMI's zero.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

G
6' 4"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
G
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

6' 4"
Freshman
G