butler vs uncg
Brandon Bishop

Men's Basketball

VMI to host Chattanooga, Samford this week

LEXINGTON, Va. – After a quick road trip to Mercer last weekend, the VMI basketball team returns home for two games this week when they face SoCon foes Chattanooga and Samford to continue league action at Cameron Hall.
 
The Keydets (4-19, 1-9) take on Chattanooga Thursday at 6 p.m. before facing Samford Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Broadcast Information
VMI vs. Chattanooga – Thursday, Feb. 8 – 6 pm                    Watch on ESPN+  |  Live Stats | Purchase tickets
VMI vs. Samford – Saturday, Feb. 10 – 1 pm                         Watch on ESPN+  |  Live Stats | Purchase tickets
 
VMI looks to rebound after a 90-69 setback against the Bears this past Saturday. In the loss, sophomore Taeshaud Jackson II logged his seventh double-double of the season and 12th of his career by posting 15 points to go with a season-high 15 boards. Freshman AJ Clark also shined with a season-high 13 points and season-best six rebounds.
 
The Mocs (15-8, 7-3) are coming off a 56-78 loss at home to Samford this past weekend. Chattanooga is led by former VMI head coach Dan Earl and features two former Keydets, Trey Bonham and Honor Huff, who lead the team with 17.2 and 15.8 points per game, respectively.
 
Samford (20-3, 9-1) enters the weekend as the league leader with only one conference loss on the season and hot off the 78-56 win at Chattanooga. The Bulldogs' sole league loss came at the hands of Furman back on January 24, a 78-68 loss in Greenville.The Bulldogs are led by Achor Achor, who is averaging 15.7 points per game.
 
QUICK HITS
* The Keydets are coming off a 90-69 loss on the road at Mercer this past Saturday
* VMI is one of the top rebounding teams in the Southern Conference, ranking fourth in rebounds per game (37.9) and
second in defensive boards (28.0)
* Taeshaud Jackson II is the primary force in rebounding, averaging 10.3 per game for second most in the SoCon. He also ranks 11th in the league in steals at 1.2 steals per game
* Freshman Stephen Olowoniyi is second on the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game, 12th best in the league. He also ranks 11th in blocks at 0.7 per outing
* Tyran Cook is shooting the ball at a high percentage in the field, ranking 10th in the SoCon at .429
* Junior Brennan Watkins is back in first place in the league in free-throw shooting at .887 (63/71). He is also ninth in scoring at 15.4 ppg, and 11th in the following categories: 3PT/Game (2.2), assists (3.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.0).
 
A WIN OVER CHATTANOOGA WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's 17th win against the Mocs in the all-time series and snap a four-game skid to UTC
--- Be VMI's first win over the Mocs since an 80-75 road win in Chattanooga on Feb. 19, 2022
--- Be VMI's second SoCon victory of the season
 
A WIN OVER SAMFORD WOULD ...
--- Be VMI's sixth all-time win against the Bulldogs and snap a four-game skid in the series
--- Be VMI's first win over Samford since a 99-80 win over the Bulldogs at Cameron Hall on Jan. 20, 2022
 
VMI vs. Chattanooga All-Time Series (16-51)
Thursday's game marks the 58th all-time meeting between the schools dating back to 1977. VMI looks to snap a four-game losing streak to the Mocs, including a 109-61 setback last month in Chattanooga. The Keydets last defeated Chattanooga on Feb. 19, 2022, an 80-75 road victory.
 
VMI vs. Samford All-Time Series (5-19)
Saturday's matchup with Samford marks the 25th all-time meeting between the programs going back to 1967. VMI looks to end a four-game skid to the Bulldogs, including a 134-96 loss last month in Birmingham. VMI's last win over Samford came on Jan. 20, 2022, a 99-80 win at Cameron Hall.
 
LAST TIME vs. CHATTANOOGA - Jan. 11, 2024 - Chattanooga 109, VMI 61 - Chattanooga, Tenn.
   The VMI basketball team fell by a 109-61 score to host Chattanooga back on Thursday, Jan. 11 at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
  Three Keydets scored in double figures as Brennan Watkins, Tyran Cook and Taeshaud Jackson II all finished with 14 points apiece, but the output was not enough as the Mocs (10-6, 2-1) pushed forward for the win.
 
LAST TIME vs. SAMFORD - Jan. 13, 2024 - Samford 134, VMI 96 - Birmingham, Ala.
   Despite career-high point totals by Taeshaud Jackson II and Stephen Olowoniyi, the VMI basketball team fell to host Samford by a 134-96 score on Jan. 13, 2024, at the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
   Jackson finished with 22 points on the night, besting his previous high of 16 set last season, and totaled a career-high six three-pointers to lead VMI. His previously set a career high with four treys last season at Western Carolina.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Tyran Cook

#0 Tyran Cook

G
6' 2"
Freshman
AJ Clark

#5 AJ Clark

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Stephen Olowoniyi

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brennan Watkins

#1 Brennan Watkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
G
Taeshaud Jackson II

#2 Taeshaud Jackson II

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Tyran Cook

#0 Tyran Cook

6' 2"
Freshman
G
AJ Clark

#5 AJ Clark

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Stephen Olowoniyi

#10 Stephen Olowoniyi

6' 8"
Freshman
F