2008-09 VMI BASKETBALL KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VMI Begins Stretch Run With Coastal Carolina/Presbyterian Road Swing Keydets Look to Improve on 5-0 Big South Road Record This Season VMI Last Time Out: Thanks to the second-straight double-double by Chavis Holmes, including 33 points and 12 rebounds, VMI knocked off Charleston Southern, 82-76, on Monday night at Cameron Hall. Holmes’ 33 points were boosted by an 11-of-12 night from the free-throw line. Holmes’ first career double-double came Saturday against Gardner-Webb, and he followed it up Monday with his second such outing. VMI (20-44, 11-22 Big South) Despite 16 first half points by Holmes, VMI trailed 39-37 at intermission. The two teams traded baskets throughout the sec- ond half, before the Keydets closed the game on a 19-4 run over the last 7:11 to take a commanding lead and pull away for at Coastal Carolina (10-115, 4-99 Big South) the eventual victory. It marked the Keydets’ fourth win this season when trailing at halftime. Saturday, February 14; 2 p.m. Last Meeting with Coastal Carolina: Behind career-high scoring from Chavis Holmes (35 pts.) and Austin Kenon (29 pts.), Kimbel Arena; Conway, S.C. VMI survived a desperate Coastal Carolina rally, holding on for a thrilling 103-102 win on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Cameron Hall. RADIO- WREL-AAM 1450 Lexington With the Keydets up by three and the seconds ticking away, Coastal Carolina’s Mario Sisinni dribbled the ball up the court and WRIS-AAM 1410 Roanoke and found teammate Steven Sexton on the right wing, just beyond the three-point line. Sexton was met by a pair of VMI defenders, but thanks to a head fake, was able to get off the heave as time expired. The INTERNET- Live Audio and Stats shot banked in, and a Chanticleer celebration ensued, as the visitors had seemingly tied the score. However, the officials ruled online at www.VMIKeydets.com. Sexton’s shot to be a two-pointer, as the toe of his right foot was on the edge of the three-point line. After checking the replay, LIVE VIDEO- Broadcast on the that ruling was upheld, giving VMI the 103-102 triumph, and bringing a raucous cheer from the 2,875 fans in attendance. Big South Edge at Last Meeting with Presbyterian: Behind five players in double figures, including a career-high 22 points from Willie Bell and www.BigSouthSports.com. a 20-point second half from Chavis Holmes, VMI defeated Presbyterian, 90-75, on Monday, Jan. 12 at Cameron Hall. The win was VMI’s 10th-straight victory, and its 13th in 14 outings. This season marks the first time in school history that VMI has appeared on the CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. The Keydets are rated 12th in the most recent poll, down from their peak at 11th three weeks ago. (Full poll on page 3) In other rankings news, the Washington Post has ranked VMI third on their Atlantic 11 poll this week, comprised of Mid-Atlantic Division I schools. The Keydets have also received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 in four different polls, including last week’s. A VMI win against Coastal Carolina would: VMI (20-44, 11-22 Big South) Improve the Keydets’ record to 9-2 on the road this season, which would be the best-ever road start in VMI history. The win at Presbyterian (10-114, 7-66 Big South) would also make VMI 6-0 on the road in conference this season, another accomplishment never achieved in program history. Monday, February 16; 7 p.m. Continue the Keydets’ best start since the 1976-77 campaign, when they opened the year 22-3. Templeton Arena; Clinton, S.C. Mark the Keydets’ fourth straight win over the Chanticleers. Coastal Carolina is 7-4 all-time against VMI, including a 4-1 mark at Kimbel Arena. VMI scored its first-ever win there last year, a 107-100 decision on Jan. 14, 2008. RADIO- WREL-AAM 1450 Lexington A VMI sweep of Coastal Carolina and Presbyterian would: and WRIS-AAM 1410 Roanoke Improve the Keydets’ record to 10-2 on the road this season, which would be the best-ever road start in VMI history. The INTERNET- Live Audio and Stats sweep would also make VMI 7-0 on the road in conference this season, another first-time achievement in program history. online at www.VMIKeydets.com. Continue the Keydets’ best start since the 1976-77 campaign, when they opened the year 23-3. LIVE VIDEO- Broadcast on the Mark the Keydets’ third win in three tries all-time against PC. VMI has never been to the Clinton, S.C. campus, having Big South Edge at claimed home wins against the Blue Hose in January 1957 and on Jan. 12, 2009. www.BigSouthSports.com. KEYDETS AT A GLANCE Probable Starters Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes F 2 Willie Bell Sr. 6-6 205 9.5 5.7 3.3 2.5 16 pts., 9 reb., 5 asts., 3 stls. vs. UNCA; 22 pts., 12 reb., 6 asts., 3 stls. vs. PC G 3 Chavis Holmes Sr. 6-4 195 22.2 4.7 3.1 3.4 33 pts., 12 reb., 4 asts., 2 stls., 11-12 FT vs. CSU; 2nd Straight Double-Double G 10 Austin Kenon So. 5-11 180 17.1 3.2 2.6 1.4 24 pts., 7 3-pts. vs. Radford (1/21); 29 pts., 7 3-pts. vs. CCU (1/10) F 15 Ron Burks Fr. 6-4 205 4.2 3.6 2.8 0.8 Career-high 12 pts., 2-2 3-pt. vs. CSU (2/9); 9 pts., 9 reb., 4 asts. at CSU (1/5) F 23 Travis Holmes Sr. 6-4 195 19.5 5.4 4.2 3.4 Career-best 37 pts., 5 stls. vs. UNCA (2/2); 23.9 pts., 6.0 asts., 3.3 stls. in Conf. Off The Bench Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes G 1 Adam Lonon Jr. 5-11 175 1.4 0.6 0.9 0.4 Played first game this season vs. Richmond, playing 13 minutes G 4 Joey Cantafio So. 5-6 150 4.0 0.8 1.0 0.3 6 pts., 3 ast. vs. Maryland Bible (11/18); 5 pts. at Jacksonville St. (11/29) F 11 Quinn Brownfield So. 6-7 195 1.8 0.9 0.2 0.3 8 pts., 6 reb., 2-3 3-pt. vs. SVU (1/29); 10 pts., 3 reb., 2 3-pt. vs. PC (1/12) G 20 Carl Josey Jr. 6-5 195 0.7 1.5 0.3 0.5 4 pts., 2 reb., 2-2 FG vs. Campbell (12/9); 3 pts., 4 reb. in 7 mins. vs. SWU G 21 Keith Gabriel Fr. 6-2 180 14.5 2.5 1.0 1.8 Sixth Man; 34 pts., 7 3-pt. at GWU (1/3); 20 pts., 8 stls. vs. HPU (1/24) G 31 Michael Sparks Fr. 6-4 195 7.3 2.4 1.0 0.7 23 pts., 5 reb., 3 3-pt., 2 stls. at Winthrop (2/4); 12 pts., 3 reb.vs. SWU (12/13) C 32 Wayne Whiting Fr. 6-7 240 2.1 0.8 0.2 0.1* 10 pts., 1 reb., 1 ast., 1 blk.vs. Stevenson; 9 pts., 4 reb. vs. Maryland Bible F 34 Hunter Houston So. 6-6 195 5.1 1.4 0.5 0.6 18 pts., 5 3-pt., 2 reb. at CSU (1/5); 20 pts., 4-6 3-pt., 2 asts. vs. SVU (1/29) F 35 Aaron Blosser Fr. 6-3 205 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.5 3 pts., 1 stl. in 3 minutes vs. Stevenson (11/20) C 50 Stephen Sargent R-Fr. 7-0 245 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.6* 6 pts., 2 blks., 1 reb., 1 ast. in 7 minutes vs. Stevenson (11/20) *- Blocks Per Game Media Schedule/Results (20-44 Overall/11-22 Big South) Information Date Opponent (Television) Time/Result Record Key Stats Nov. 14 at Kentucky (FSN South/BBSN) W, 111-103 1-0 VMI 7-of-8 3-Pt. to begin game, 14-31 3-Pt. in game X VMI Basketball Contacts Nov. 16 at Virginia (Comcast SportsNet) L, 97-107 1-1 UVa 27 2nd Chance Pts.; Outrebounded VMI 50-36 Nov. 18 Maryland Bible W, 118-72 2-1 VMI 57 pts. off 37 MBC TO; VMI 89% FT Nov. 20 Stevenson W, 133-72 3-1 VMI 48% 3-Pt., 33 asts.; VMI 21 stls., 12 blks. Wade Branner, Associate A.D./Athletic Nov. 24 at Campbell W, 97-92 4-1 VMI 48% (19-40) 3-Pt.; 10 3-Pt. off bench Communications (Basketball Contact) Nov. 29 at Jacksonville State L, 67-95 4-2 VMI 21% (7-34) 3-Pt.; JSU 61% FG% Office (540) 464-7515 Dec. 3 Winthrop* (MASN) W, 92-74 5-2, 1-0 VMI 16 3-Pt.; Turnovers: WU 25, VMI 10 Cell (540) 319-1271 Dec. 6 at UNC Asheville* W, 114-105 6-2, 2-0 VMI 56% (15-27) 3-Pt.; Turnovers: UNCA 20, VMI9 Fax (540) 464-7583 Dec. 9 Campbell W, 88-76 7-2 VMI 16-0 run after halftime; CU 26 Turnovers Email [email protected] Dec.