VMI 76, Gardner-Webb 75
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Junior guard Q.J. Peterson produced his seventh 20-point game of the year scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds to help lead VMI past Gardner-Webb, 76-75 Monday night in college basketball action in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
The Keydets (4-6) snapped a three-game skid and earned their first road victory of the season.
VMI was bolstered by balanced scoring as all nine players who took the floor for the Keydets tallied and logged at least an assist. Junior forward Trey Chapman scored 13 points, junior guard Julian Eleby added 12 points, and senior forward Phillip Anglade contributed 10 points.
The Keydets held off a furious Gardner-Webb rally to post the win. VMI led 73-62 when Trey Chapman converted a layup with 2:11 left in regulation. Adonis Burbage quickly triggered eight consecutive Bulldog points with a 3-pointer at the 2:05 mark. The Keydets missed a 3-point pointer and committed back-to-back turnovers on their next three possessions to open the door for the hosts. Peterson knocked in three of four free throws to put VMI ahead 76-72 before Burbage rained in a wing 3-pointer from the left corner to trim the lead to 76-75 with 11 seconds left. Eleby was fouled quickly on the ensuing inbounds at :08, but missed the front end of a one-and one - setting the stage for a dramatic game winning layup attempt by Bulldog guard Harold McBride who missed with two seconds left and the rebound was knocked out of bounds as time expired.
Junior forward Tyrell Nelson produced his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds and guard Isaiah Ivey added 13 points for the Bulldogs (5-8).
The Bulldogs fell to 0-8 when trailing at the half and were stymied by 13 of 26 free throw shooting in the second half.
VMI outscored Gardner-Webb 38-30 in points in the paint and generated 15 assists while holding an 18-14 edge in points off turnovers. The Keydets also generated 15 bench scoring points on the night after producing a total of 9 such points the previous two contests.
VMI was hampered by foul trouble as Anglade, Chapman and forward Fred Iruafemi had all exited the game with five personals as Gardner-Webb was mounting its comeback.
The Keydets generated a 17-2 scoring run to end the first half to convert a 43-33 deficit at the 5:28 mark into a 40-35 halftime lead.
Gardner-Webb rallied to tie the game at 48-48 when guard David Efiayani converted one of two free throws with 13:58 left before VMI ripped off a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to surge ahead in a string that was capped by a Peterson driving dunk with the shot clock winding down.
Another slam follow-up dunk by Peterson off an Eleby 3-pointer gave VMI its largest lead, 64-50, with 8:39 left.