Game Notes

LEXINGTON, Va. – With the start of Southern Conference action this week, the VMI basketball team looks to a fresh start to the season opening league play at Wofford College Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
   
The Keydets (3-10, 0-0) are coming off an 82-65 win over Penn State New Kensington back on December 22 and look to continue the momentum against the Terriers (7-6, 0-0).
 
VMI vs. Wofford College Series History (9-22)
Wednesday's game marks the 32nd all-time meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1970. The teams split the series last season in Coach Wilson's debut year when the Keydets fell in Spartanburg last January before defeating the Terriers in overtime, 87-83, last February in the home finale for VMI. The last time VMI beat Wofford in Spartanburg occurred on Dec. 29, 2021, an 80-73 win at Richardson Stadium.
 
QUICK HITS
* VMI is the top rebounding team in the Southern Conference, ranking first in rebounds per game (40.3),
including third in defensive (29.0) and fourth in offensive boards per game (11.3). VMI is also fifth in rebounding margin at 5.5.
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 10.4 per game for third most in the SoCon
* Freshman Stephen Olowoniyi is second on the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game, 11th best in the league
* Junior Brennan Watkins ranks second in the league in free-throw shooting at .912 from the charity stripe. He also ranks 10th in the SoCon in 3PT field goals/game (2.5) and 11th overall in the league individual standings in scoring (15.3). He is also ninth in assists at 3.2 per outing.
 
A WIN OVER WOFFORD WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's second straight win over the Terriers and 10th overall in the all-time series
--- Be VMI's first win in Spartanburg since Dec. 29, 2021 (W, 80-73)
--- Be VMI's fourth win of the season and first Division I victory of the year
 
LAST TIME OUT - December 22, 2023 - VMI 82, Penn State New Kensington 65 - Lexington, Va.
   A strong rebounding effort helped the VMI men's basketball team defeat Penn State New Kensington, 82-65, Friday afternoon in Cameron Hall in the Keydets' last non-conference game of the season.
   VMI outrebounded the Nittany Lions 46-26 on the day, led by sophomore Taeshaud Jackson II with 14 to tie a season high and just two shy of his career high. Junior guard Brennan Watkins grabbed a career-high eight boards, all on the defensive end.
   Tyran Cook paced VMI with 17 points, while Jackson and Watkins each scored 15. Jackson earned his eighth career double-double by posting 15 points to go with 14 rebounds on the day.
 
LAST TIME vs. WOFFORD COLLEGE - Feb. 22, 2023 - VMI 87, Wofford 83 (OT) - Lexington, Va.
   The VMI men's basketball team trailed by 10 points with 2:27 left to play on Feb. 22, 2023, but mounted a furious comeback to rally for an 87-83 overtime victory over visiting Wofford College in Southern Conference action from Cameron Hall on Senior Night. 
   Wofford led 67-57 after a 6-0 run to seemingly take control in the closing minutes. Tony Felder, Jr. nailed a three pointer and Rickey Bradley, Jr. converted a layup after a steal to quickly cut the edge to five.
   The Terriers still led by five (71-66) with under a minute to play but Bradley made a layup and two free throws to make it a one-point game. Following two Wofford free throws, Tyler Houser drilled a three pointer to tie it and the VMI defense got a late stop to force OT.