VMI continues the month of February with a two-game road swing through the Palmetto State beginning with a Thursday night matchup with league leading Wofford which remains undefeated in league play at 13-0. Of the six games remaining regular season games, the Keydets are playing three at Cameron Hall and three on the road. VMI will be looking to bounce back against the Terriers after a heartbreaking 84-77 overtime loss to Samford on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Last Time Out: Samford 84, VMI 77 (OT) - Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019
The VMI basketball team led for nearly 37 minutes Saturday afternoon, but visiting Samford University rallied for an 84-77 overtime win in Southern Conference play. The Keydets had a 67-53 advantage with 6:32 on the game clock after a dunk from Myles Lewis. A 12-0 Bulldog run over the next four minutes cut the lead to just two and VMI still had a two-point edge in the closing seconds of regulation. Brandon Austin finished in the paint with 13 seconds left to tie the game and a VMI potential game-winner with two seconds left didn't go down to force overtime. Samford quickly took control of the extra session, opening a 79-72 lead. VMI cut the edge to two (79-77) with 1:45 remaining after a pair of Jake Stephens free-throws, but a traditional three-point play from Ruben Guerrero on Samford's next possession provided a five-point cushion. The Bulldogs held VMI scoreless the rest of the way. Samford shot 4-of-5 from the floor in the extra five-minute overtime period, while VMI was just 2-of-11, including 1-of-8 from distance. Junior guard Garrett Gilkeson filled the stat column with 13 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and career-high seven assists before fouling out. Guerrero paced Samford (15-11/5-8 SoCon) with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots and Austin posted 19 points and seven boards for the visitors.
Last Meeting with the Terriers: Wofford 90, VMI 76 (Jan. 12, 2019)
The VMI basketball team gave league-leading Wofford College all it could handle, but it wasn't enough as the visiting Terriers defeated the Keydets 90-76 in Southern Conference play. VMI opened the game on a tear, hitting its first six shots en route to opening a 17-6 lead in the first five minutes. Keydet freshman center Jake Stephens earned his first start of the season and responded with two three-pointers and a layup in that span for eight early points. The Terriers chipped away at the deficit and went into halftime ahead 40-38. The Keydets trailed by just three (61-58) at the 11:27 mark after a basket by Greg Parham, but a 20-2 run over the next seven minutes allowed Wofford to open a 81-60 lead and put the contest out of reach. Garrett Gilkeson paced VMI with team-highs of 17 points and seven rebounds, and also added three assists and two steals. Stephens finished with 11 points and five rebounds, his third double-digit scoring game in conference action. Nathan Hoover posted a game-high 25 points and Cameron Jackson had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
A win over Wofford would ...
-- Snap an 11-game skid against the Terriers and be VMI's first victory in the series since the 2000-01 season.
-- Be the first February victory for VMI this year.
Series History – VMI vs. Wofford
This will be the 21st meeting between the teams that first met in 1970. Wofford leads the series, 14-6, and has taken the last 11 meetings including wins 92-53 (Spartanburg, SC) and 63-46 (Lexington, Va.) last year and 90-76 in Lexington this year. VMI last defeated the Terriers, 69-60 on February 10, 2001 in Lexington.
Gilkeson on a High
Junior guard Garrett Gilkeson continues to perform at a high level and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and career-best seven assists vs. Samford last Saturday at Cameron hall. Known as a dependable defender and rebounder heading into the season, Gilkeson has stepped up his scoring as well and is averaging 10.8 points - second on the team – and leads the team in rebounding (6.8), steals (38) and free throw shooting percentage (83.9%) although he does not have enough attempts to qualify among the league leaders. Gilkeson is also shooting 43.4% from 3-point range and has three made treys in seven games this year. Gilkeson pulled down 11 rebounds to go with 11 points at The Citadel Jan. 26 for his third career double-double and previously had 10 rebounds against Kentucky Christian Nov. 20 and added 15 points. For the eight games in January, Gilkeson scored in double figures in six contests and averaged a steady 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and shot 51.7% from the 3-point line.
