VMI returns home to face UNCG Wednesday night

LEXINGTON, Va. – Following a quick road trip to Western Carolina last weekend, the VMI basketball team returns home to face UNCG for a single home matchup with the Spartans Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Cameron Hall.

Broadcast Information
VMI vs. UNCG – Wednesday, Jan. 31 – 6 p.m. Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats | Purchase tickets

One of the league's top teams, UNCG (15-6, 6-2) is coming off a surprising 70-64 loss at home this past weekend to Mercer. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Spartans, which had racked up wins over Western Carolina, Wofford, The Citadel and Chattanooga in prior weeks. UNCG opened SoCon play with wins over Furman and ETSU before a close 79-70 loss to SoCon leader Samford back on Jan. 11.

The Spartans are led by Mikeal Brown-Jones, who is averaging 21.1 points per game and has been named the SoCon Player of the Week twice this season.

QUICK HITS
* The Keydets (4-17, 1-7) are coming off a 102-77 loss to Western Carolina on the road last Saturday 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 (28.3)
* VMI ranks sixth in three-point field goal percentage at .338
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 10.2 per game for second most in the SoCon. He also ranks 10th in the league in steals at 1.2 steals per game
* Freshman Stephen Olowoniyi is second on the team in rebounding with 6.3 per game, 11th best in the league. He also ranks 10th in blocks at 0.8 per outing
* Tyran Cook is shooting the ball at a high percentage in the field, ranking 10th in the SoCon at .428
* Junior Brennan Watkins is back in first place in the league in free-throw shooting at .889 (56/63) after going 7-7 at Western Carolina from the charity stripe. He is also ninth in three-pointers per game at 2.3 and 10th in assists (3.0), while ranking among the SoCon's top scorers in ninth place at 15.4 points per game

VMI vs. UNCG Series History (10-23)
Wednesday's game marks the 34th all-time meeting between the schools with UNCG winning 23 off the 33 all-time contests. VMI won the first-ever matchup between the programs, a 114-91 win back in 1978. UNCG claimed wins in both contests a year ago, but VMI won two of the prior three games, including a 76-65 win on Feb. 2, 2022, in Greensboro. The road win was only VMI's second win at UNCG in the previous 14 tries.

A WIN OVER UNCG WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's 11th all-time win over the Spartans and snap a two-game skid to UNCG
--- Be VMI's third win over the Spartans in the last 10 matchups
--- Be VMI's second SoCon victory of the season

LAST TIME OUT - January 27, 2024 - Western Carolina 102, VMI 77 - Cullowhee, N.C.
   The VMI basketball team scored the first bucket of the game but host Western Carolina took the reins shortly after as the Catamounts pulled away for a 102-77 win at Ramsey Regional Activity Center Saturday evening in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
   VMI freshman guard Tyran Cook scored the first basket before Western Carolina (16-5, 5-3) tied it up and quickly built an 18-4 lead by the first media timeout.
   The Catamounts kept a hot hand through the entirety of the contest, finishing 52 percent from the field and 51 percent from three-point range (14-for-27). The league's leading scorer, Vonterius Woolbright, logged his second triple-double of the season by finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to go with two steals.

LAST TIME vs. UNCG - Jan. 25, 2023 - UNCG 62, VMI 50 - Greensboro, N.C.
   The VMI men's basketball team played one of the top teams in the Southern Conference tough on the road Wednesday night, but UNC Greensboro defeated the Keydets, 62-50, on Jan. 25, 2023, at the Greensboro Coliseum.
   Freshman guard Tony Felder, Jr. scored 11 points over that stretch, including two three pointers. VMI stayed within five until the final 4:14 of play. The five Keydet freshmen combined for 42 points.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#0 Tyran Cook: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#0 Tyran Cook
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

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

VMI Athletics

Scoreboard

VMI returns home to face UNCG Wednesday night

Players Mentioned

#1 Brennan Watkins

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#0 Tyran Cook

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

Players Mentioned

#1 Brennan Watkins

#10 Tony Felder, Jr.

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

#0 Tyran Cook

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi