jackson vs presbyterian
Randall K. Wolf

Men's Basketball

VMI returns home to take on Furman

Game Notes

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI basketball team looks to rebound after two SoCon losses last week as the Keydets return home to face Furman Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Cameron Hall.
 
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Broadcast Information
VMI vs. Furman – Wednesday, Jan. 17 – 6 pm                       Watch on ESPN+  |  Live Stats
 

QUICK HITS
* The Keydets are coming off a 134-96 loss to Samford to conclude a two-game SoCon road swing last Saturday
* VMI is one of the top rebounding teams in the Southern Conference, ranking third in rebounds per game (39.4),
third in defensive (28.5) and fifth in offensive boards per game (10.9). VMI ranks fifth in three-point field goal percentage at .350
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 10.2 per game for second most in the SoCon
* Freshman Stephen Olowoniyi is second on the team in rebounding with 6.5 per game, ninth best in the league
* Junior Brennan Watkins ranks first in the league in free-throw shooting at .875 (42/48) from the charity stripe. He also ranks seventh in field goal percentage (.439), 10th in scoring (15.2) and ninth three-pointers per game (2.4).
 
VMI vs. Furman Series History (37-69)
Wednesday's game marks the 107th all-time meeting between the programs with Furman claiming 69 of those contests. VMI looks to snap a three-game losing streak to the Paladins after Furman won both games last season. The Keydets last defeated Furman on New Years Day in 2022, a 76-67 win at home. It was VMI's second straight win over the Paladins as VMI also defeated them in overtime, 91-90, at the 2021 SoCon Basketball Tournament in Asheville.
 
A WIN OVER FURMAN WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's 38th all-time win over Furman and snap a three-game losing skid to the Paladins
--- Be VMI's first SoCon victory of the season
--- Be VMI's fourth win of the season and first Division I victory of the year
 
LAST TIME OUT - January 13, 2024 - Samford 134, VMI 96 - Birmingham, Ala.
   Despite career-high point totals by Taeshaud Jackson II and Stephen Olowoniyi, the VMI basketball team fell to host Samford by a 134-96 score last Saturday night at Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
 Jackson finished with 22 points on the night, besting his previous high of 16 set last season, and totaled a career-high six three-pointers to lead VMI. His previously set a career high with four treys last season at Western Carolina.
 Olowoniyi logged a season-high 16 points during the contest to beat his prior best of 14 points from last week versus Mercer. He also achieved his first career double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds throughout the game.
 
LAST TIME vs. FURMAN - Feb. 8, 2023 - Furman 94, VMI 63 - Lexington, Va.
   The first-place Furman University basketball team opened a double-digit first half lead and never looked back on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, defeating VMI 94-63 in a Southern Conference game from Cameron Hall.
   The Keydets hung around in the early going and trailed just 20-16 with 10 minutes gone in the first half. The Paladins used a 34-7 run to go into halftime ahead 54-23. Freshman Taeshaud Jackson II continued his strong play with 13 points and 10 rebounds, his third-straight game with double-digit boards. Freshman Tyler Houser narrowly missed a double double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Tyler Houser

#44 Tyler Houser

C
6' 9"
Freshman
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Stephen Olowoniyi

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
G
Tyler Houser

#44 Tyler Houser

6' 9"
Freshman
C
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Stephen Olowoniyi

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

6' 8"
Freshman
F