team at wofford
Mark Olencki

Men's Basketball

VMI back on the road to face Western Carolina

LEXINGTON, Va. – After a close loss to ETSU Wednesday night, the VMI basketball team will look for a quick bounce back Saturday when the Keydets travel to face Western Carolina at 5 p.m. at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
 
Broadcast Information
VMI at Western Carolina – Saturday, Jan. 27 – 5 pm           Watch on ESPN+  |  Live Stats
 
About the Catamounts (15-5, 4-3)
Western Carolina looks to put to rest a three-game losing streak after consecutive losses to league foes Samford, Furman and UNCG. In Wednesday night's 85-82 overtime loss to UNCG, the Catamounts rallied in the last 10 seconds of regulation to force OT, but ultimately fell when the Spartans converted nine free throws in the extra period to steal a win on Western's home court. Western is led by SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Vonterius Woolbright, who leads the league with 21.7 points per game.
 
VMI vs. Western Carolina Series History (29-39)
Saturday's game marks the 69th all-time meeting between the schools. A VMI win will be the 30th all-time over the Catamounts dating back to 1978. A victory for the Keydets would also snap a three-game skid to Western Carolina and mark their first win over the Catamounts since Feb. 4, 2022, a 76-69 win at home.
 
QUICK HITS
* The Keydets (4-16, 1-6) are coming off a 74-73 loss to SoCon foe ETSU Wednesday night
* VMI is one of the top rebounding teams in the Southern Conference, ranking fourth in rebounds per game (38.5) and second in defensive (28.2)
* VMI ranks third in three-point field goal percentage at .347
* 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 6.2 per game, 11th best in the league. He also ranks 10th in blocks at 0.8 per outing
* Junior Brennan Watkins ranks third in the league in free-throw shooting at .875 (49/56) from the charity stripe. He is also ninth in three-pointers per game at 2.4 and 10th in assists (3.2)
 
A WIN OVER WESTERN CAROLINA WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's 30th all-time win over the Catamounts and snap a three-game skid to Western Carolina
--- Be VMI's seventh win over the Catamounts in the last 12 matchups
--- Be VMI's second SoCon victory of the season
 
LAST TIME OUT - January 24, 2024 - ETSU 74, VMI 73 - Lexington, Va.
   Neck-and-neck most of the game with visiting ETSU, the VMI basketball team fell by a close 74-73 score Wednesday night at Cameron Hall.
   The Keydets (4-16, 1-6) got down by as many as 11 in the opening half but battled back to go into halftime down by just four, 35-31. The Bucs (10-10, 2-5) quickly rebuilt the lead back to 11 early in the second half, but VMI again showed resilience by fighting back and ultimately pulling ahead, 66-65, with 6:43 to play after a Taeshaud Jackson II three-pointer.
   Both teams fought to the finish line as Brennan Watkins pulled the Keydets to within one, 74-73, after a three-pointer with 37 seconds on the clock. VMI was unable to tack on another bucket in the final moments as the Bucs escaped Cameron Hall with their second SoCon victory of the season.
 
LAST TIME vs. Western Carolina - Feb. 25, 2023 - Western Carolina 85, VMI 66 - Cullowhee, N.C.
   The VMI basketball team fell to host Western Carolina as the Catamounts rallied over the final 13 minutes of the second half to earn an 85-66 win on Feb. 25, 2023, at Ramsey Activity Center in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
   Behind a season-high 24 points from freshman center Tyler Houser and Taeshaud Jackson's fifth double-double in the past six games, the Keydets (7-24, 2-16) battled for the entirety of the contest but could not keep pace with the Catamounts (17-14, 10-8).
 
 




 
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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