VMI Basketball vs. USI - Johnson, Yildizoglu (Story)
Barbee World Photography
78
Winner VMI VMI 2-0,0-0 SoCon
74
Southern Ind. USI 0-2,0-0 OVC
Winner
VMI VMI
2-0,0-0 SoCon
78
Final
74
Southern Ind. USI
0-2,0-0 OVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
VMI VMI 30 48 78
Southern Ind. USI 37 37 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

VMI tops Southern Indiana in first road contest

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Behind a career-high 32 points and second consecutive double-double by junior TJ Johnson, the VMI basketball team earned a 78-74 come-from-behind victory over host Southern Indiana Friday night at Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana.
 
The win moves VMI to 2-0 on the season for a second consecutive year while the Screaming Eagles fall to 0-2 to begin the 2025-26 campaign. Johnson's 32 points were combined with a new career-high 14 rebounds as he logged his second straight game in double figures in two categories.
 

 
VMI Head Coach Andrew Wilson
"This was a big culture win for us. We're playing without the Preseason Conference Player of the Year right now. For our guys to step up on the road and play in an environment like this on their opening night, it speaks volumes about our program and I'm so proud of our kids right now.
 
"I'm the luckiest coach in the country. I coach the best kids in the country. They're committed to each other. We had the second highest level of production return to our roster this season at a military school. They weren't going to lose this game tonight. We're one of the most connected teams in the country and I'm one of the proudest coaches in the country right now."
 
Game Summary
The Keydets and Screaming Eagles kept pace as the schools traded barbs throughout the first half and were tied at 23-23 with six minutes before the half. USI went on a little run to close out the opening half – including a 10-point lead with one minute left before the halftime buzzer - to go into the break with a 37-30 advantage.
 
VMI gradually dug itself out of the hole and tied the game at 48-48 at the 13:47 mark of the second half. USI went on a mini-run to build up an eight-point lead midway through, but the Keydets again rebounded to knot the score at 60-60 with 6:29 to play. With the game tied at 69-all with 1:05 left in regulation, junior Tan Yildizoglu hit a huge three-pointer to put the Keydets up, 72-69, and VMI held on over the final minute to secure the comeback victory.
 

 
Key Stats
*Johnson finished the game with a new career-high 32 points, besting his previous high of 23 set against Christendom last season. He also recorded a career-high 14 rebounds, topping his previous best of 10 set against J&W Monday night
*Yildizoglu also finished in double figures with 12 points to go with five assists
*Cal Liston finished with nine points, just one shy of tying his career high. He went a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc
*Jaylen Pazon also finished with nine points to tie Liston as VMI's third leading scorer
 


Up Next
The Keydets take on SEC foe Missouri this Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. EST





 
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