Keydets host ETSU in Coaches vs. Cancer Game

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI basketball team will finish a three-game homestand facing ETSU Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Cameron Hall in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game. The VMI coaching staff will don suits and sneakers to spread awareness of cancer research and support those who have been affected by the deadly disease.

Game Information
VMI vs. ETSU – Wednesday, Jan. 24 – 6 p.m.
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats | Purchase tickets

QUICK HITS
* The Keydets are coming off a momentum-shifting 70-63 win over rival The Citadel this past Saturday. The win was the 60th all-time versus the Bulldogs and marked VMI's first Division I victory of the season
* VMI is one of the top rebounding teams in the Southern Conference, ranking third in rebounds per game (39.0), second in defensive (30.2) and sixth in offensive boards per game (10.5).
* VMI ranks sixth in the SoCon in three-point field goal percentage at .340
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 10.1 per game for second most in the SoCon
* Freshman Stephen Olowoniyi is second on the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game, ninth best in the league. He also ranks ninth in blocks at 0.8 per outing
* Junior Brennan Watkins ranks first in the league in free-throw shooting at .885 (46/52) from the charity stripe. He is also ninth in three-pointers per game at 2.3, and is 10th in both assists (3.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1)

VMI vs. ETSU Series History (15-56)
Wednesday's game marks the 72nd all-time meeting between the schools dating back to 1952. VMI looks to snap a two-game losing skid to the Bucs, who won both contests during the 2022-23 season. The Keydets last defeated ETSU on January 29, 2022, a close 83-79 win at home. VMI also looks to pick up its second win over the Bucs over the last 10 games in the series.

A WIN OVER ETSU WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's 16th all-time win over the Bucs and snap a two-game skid to ETSU
--- Be VMI's second win over the Bucs in the last 10 matchups
--- Be VMI's second SoCon victory of the season

LAST TIME OUT - January 20, 2024 - VMI 70, The Citadel 63 - 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.
   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.

LAST TIME vs. ETSU - Feb. 10, 2023 - ETSU 69, VMI 65 - Johnson City, Tenn.
   The VMI men's basketball team narrowly missed winning its second Southern Conference road game in the last eight days as ETSU hung on for a 69-65 victory over the Keydets from Freedom Hall on February 10, 2023.
   All five Keydet starters reached double digits in scoring, led by freshman Tony Felder, Jr. with 18 points.
   The tight contest featured nine lead changes and seven ties. Felder, Jr. nailed a trey with 7:38 on the game clock to give VMI a 55-53 lead, but the Bucs went on a 9-2 run to go ahead 62-57 with 3:31 remaining. Felder, Jr, hit another three cut the lead to just two with 1:21 left, but ETSU put the game away with back-to-back baskets.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Devin Butler: G; 6' 2"; Junior

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

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

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

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi: F; 6' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Devin Butler
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

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

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

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

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: F

VMI Athletics

Scoreboard

Keydets host ETSU in Coaches vs. Cancer Game

Players Mentioned

#11 Devin Butler

#1 Brennan Watkins

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

Players Mentioned

#11 Devin Butler

#1 Brennan Watkins

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi