JONESBORO, Ark. – Senior guard Garrett Gilkeson scored 18 points and senior center Tyler Creammer added 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to help VMI top UC Davis, 89-84, in double overtime Sunday afternoon in the Red Wolves Classic at First National Bank Arena.
The win was the first for the Keydets this season after suffering three previous losses on the young campaign by a combined six points.
In what could be only described as a total team effort, the Keydets placed five in double-figure scoring for the victory. Joining Gilkeson and Creammer in double figures were junior guard Myles Lewis (17), freshman guard Travis Evee (14) and freshman guard Kamdyn Curfman (15) who knocked in five shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
Trailing 79-76 with three minutes remaining in double overtime, Curfman drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at the 2:51 mark and Evee followed with a basket at 2:01 to put VMI up for good. UC Davis guard Ezra Manjohn converted a layup to pull the Aggies within 85-84 with 17 seconds left, but Gilkeson and Lewis each sank two free throws over the final 13 seconds of the contest to seal the Keydet victory.
VMI moved to 1-5 while UC Davis fell to 2-3.
The Keydets shot just 37 percent from the floor but converted 24-of-27 free throws for the game, including 11-of 12-in the overtime sessions. Gilkeson was 10-of-12 from the stripe while Creammer knocked in all six of his attempts.
UC Davis placed four in double figures and was led by senior guard Joe Mooney with 25 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Keydets trailed by as many as eight points (19-11) midway in the first half following UC Davis guard Caleb Fuller’s basket to give the Aggies a 19-11 lead. The Keydets, behind 10 first-half points from Lewis, pulled within 38-34 at halftime. The Keydets started briskly in the opening minutes of the second half with an 8-2 spurt and assumed a 45-42 lead after a Gilkeson trey at the 16:24 mark.
Neither team held more than a five-point margin for the remainder of the game and both squads missed opportunities to end the game in regulation. UC Davis did not post a field goal over last 6:20 of regulation and missed a chance to break a 66-66 tie when Manjon missed the second of two free throws at the :09 mark and VMI’s Evee misfired from 3-point range at the buzzer.
The game was sent to a second overtime session when Mooney missed a 3-pointer with one second left, sending the teams to double overtime tied 74-74.
VMI posted 24 assists for the game and was led by Gilkeson with seven dishes. The Keydets also held the upper hand in bench scoring, 34-8.
The Keydets return home to complete the Red Wolves Classic on Wednesday in Lexington, Virginia, and will face Christendom College at 7 p.m. at Cameron Hall.