Tennessee Tech squeaks past VMI in the opening round of the Greenbrier Tip-Off, 72-71
Chuck Steenburgh/SportsPhotoGuy.com
72
Winner Tennessee Tech TNTech 3-1,0-0 OVC
71
VMI VMI 3-1,0-0 SoCon
Winner
Tennessee Tech TNTech
3-1,0-0 OVC
72
Final
71
VMI VMI
3-1,0-0 SoCon
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Tennessee Tech TNTech 38 34 72
VMI VMI 31 40 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

VMI rally comes up short against Tennessee Tech

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – The VMI basketball team rallied from a seven-point deficit at halftime, 38-31, and kept pace with Tennessee Tech but ultimately fell by a 72-71 score Friday night at The Greenbrier in the opening round of the inaugural Greenbrier Tip-Off.
 
With the loss, VMI will play in the Third Place Game Saturday at noon versus Big South foe Charleston Southern.  CSU came up short in the first game Friday against UT Rio Grande Valley, falling by an 86-76 score.
 
The Final Minute
Down four in the final minute, VMI's Tan Yildizoglu hit a three to pull the Keydets within one point with 56 seconds remaining. After a Golden Eagle miss on the other end, VMI's Augustinas Kiudulas was fouled and hit two from the charity stripe to give VMI a 71-70 lead with 12 seconds left in regulation.
 
Jaylon Johnson dribbled down the court for Tennessee Tech and hit a layup to put the Eagles back up, 72-71, in what came to be the final score. VMI turned the ball over on its final possession as Tennessee Tech came out victorious.
 
VMI Head Coach Andrew Wilson
"I'm very proud of the way we continued to battle tonight. We struggled to find a rhythm offensively but caught our stride as the game went on. We have some warriors on this team and we are about the right things. We are very excited for the opportunity to bounce back tomorrow."
 
Key Stats
*Kiudulas led VMI with a game-high 21 points on the night by hitting three treys and went a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line. He earned a double-double by tracking down 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards
* TJ Johnson also scored in double figures for VMI and finished with 10 points
* Jaylon Johnson and Rodney Johnson led Tennessee Tech with 13 points apiece for the Golden Eagles. Daniel Egbuniwe logged 12 points, and Ray Glasgow (11) and Grant Slatten (10) also scored in double figures
*Tennessee Tech scored 12 points off VMI turnovers but the Keydets countered by logging 13 second-chance points to three for the Golden Eagles
 
 
Up Next
VMI will play Charleston Southern Saturday at noon in a Third Place Game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off
 
 



 
Print Friendly Version