nussbaum, olowoniyi vs. citadel
Randall K. Wolf
63
The Citadel Cit 8-11,0-6 SoCon
70
Winner VMI VMI 4-15,1-5 SoCon
The Citadel Cit
8-11,0-6 SoCon
63
Final
70
VMI VMI
4-15,1-5 SoCon
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
The Citadel Cit 29 34 63
VMI VMI 35 35 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Keydets outlast rival The Citadel, 70-63

Gallery

LEXINGTON, Va. - After earning a 16-point lead midway through the opening half, the VMI basketball team continued to fight hard in the second half to hang on to beat rival The Citadel, 70-63, Saturday afternoon at Cameron Hall.

The victory was monumental for the Keydets (4-15, 1-5) as they earned their fourth victory of the season and first SoCon win of the year. It was also VMI's 60th all-time win against the Bulldogs (8-11, 0-6), who remain winless in SoCon action through six league games. The win also marked VMI's first Division I victory of the season.

VMI Head Coach Andrew Wilson
"I'm so proud of our kids. We have faced a tremendous amount of adversity this season and for them to step up versus our biggest rival is very special. The corps gave us the edge we needed and created a big-time college basketball environment."
 

Game Summary
VMI made several three-pointers in the opening 10 minutes of the game to propel the Keydets to a 25-9 lead. Taeshaud Jackson II, Devin Butler, Tyran Cook and AJ Clark all converted treys while The Citadel struggled from the field. The Bulldogs gradually cut into the deficit over the final nine minutes of the period to go into the half with VMI leading, 35.29.
 
The schools battled back and forth the rest of the game as VMI led 42-41 with 14:13 on the clock and 46-45 with 10 minutes to play. On five separate occasions, the Bulldogs got to within one point of the Keydets as VMI held on to a 59-58 lead with 3:13 to go.  The Citadel tied it back up at 59-59 at the 2:45 mark and earned its first lead of the game since the opening bucket, 60-59, after a Madison Durr free throw.
 
Brennan Watkins regained the lead for VMI off a three-pointer at the 1:55 mark, and freshman Stephen Olowoniyi upped the lead to 64-62 with a basket in the paint. Senior Devin Butler went 4-4 from the charity stripe in the final minute and Watkins iced the win with two final free throws to seal the 70-63 win for VMI.
 
Inside the Box Score
*Five Keydets finished in double figures including  Watkins (14), Cook (12), Butler (11), Clark (10) and Olowoniyi (10)
*Clark's 10 points marked a season-high for the freshman
*Nussbaum earned seven rebounds, one off his career high
*Watkins tied a career-best six assists on the day
*The Citadel was led by Quentin Millora-Brown, who logged a game-high 18 points. Three other Bulldogs achieved double digits including AJ Smith (12), Durr (12) and Keynan Davis (10)
*The Bulldogs finished 1-18 from three-point range (5.6%)

Up Next
The Keydets finish off a three-game homestand by hosting ETSU Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Cameron Hall.







 
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