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The Virginia Military Institute men’s basketball team earned its first Southern Conference victory of the season by defeating rival The Citadel 75-69 on Thursday night at McAlister Field House in Charleston, S.C.
The win was the first conference victory for first-year VMI head coach Andrew Wilson who also picked up his first career road victory at the helm. It also snapped a 12-game losing skid for the Keydets, who opened SoCon play 0-10 between late December and through the month of January. When the teams met on Jan. 21 at VMI, The Citadel won 60-52.
In a rematch that featured nine ties and 12 lead changes, the Keydets overcame an 11point deficit early in the second half to come back and earn the win. A Taeshaud Jackson II three at the 13:16 mark cut the deficit to three, and Rickey Bradley Jr. knotted the score at 54 apiece at the 11:58 mark on a step-back three to continue VMI’s momentum.
Sam Wolfe gave VMI its first lead of the second half on a 3-pointer moments later to make the score 57-54 and later gave VMI a big bucket off an offensive rebound that resulted in a fortunate tip-in to make the score 59-57 in VMI’s favor. Tony Felder Jr. made two clutch three-pointers in the final three minutes to help VMI keep its lead late in the game and hold on for the win.
Bradley Jr. led the Keydets with 16 points and dished out four assists, while Asher Woods added 15 points and five assists. Felder Jr. contributed 13 points, and Sean Conway chipped in 10 points. Wolfe scored eight points, and Jackson II pulled down a career-high 16 points to go along with seven points.
On Saturday, with several players battling injuries, the Keydets suffered an 80-54 road loss to Mercer in Macon, Ga. to fall to 6-9 overall and 1-11 in the SoCon.
The Keydets will continue SoCon action tonight, Wednesday, when they play host to Furman at 7 at Cameron Hall in Lexington. VMI will travel to take on SoCon foe East Tennessee State on Friday at 7 p.m.
For VMI’s schedule and updates, visit www.vmikeydets. com.
