Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Senior Stan Okoye scored a game-high 27 points, and junior D.J. Covington added 25 points, to lead the Virginia Military Institute to a 93-60 Big South Conference men's basketball victory at Longwood University on Wednesday night Willett Hall in Farmville. The Keydets (11-10, 6-3 Big South) led 40-26 at halftime, shot 58% from the field, and made 11 three-point field goals during the contest. Junior
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach scored 13 points for the Lancers (3-21, 0-10 Big South) on Greek Night and LancerStrong that brought a crowd of 1,536 to the North Division game. Longwood will play again on the road at South Division opponent Winthrop University on Saturday, February 9 at 4 p.m.
VMI scored the first four points of the game on baskets from Covington and Okoye, before freshman
Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York answered with a three-pointer at 17:59. The Keydets extended their lead to 9-3 at 16:41 after a three-pointer by Brian Brown, but junior
David Robinson/Chesterfield followed with a jumper and Carey converted a steal and slam dunk to make it 9-7 at 15:59. VMI responded after the media timeout with 11 unanswered points to lead 20-7 at 13:04, and the visitors stretched their run to 25-8 for a 34-15 advantage at 6:00, as Covington (11) and Okoye (six) combined for 17 of the points. The Lancers managed to get within 38-26 in the final minute of the half after a three-pointer by Robinson, but Okoye scored the last basket of the half to give VMI a 40-26 lead at the intermission. Covington had 15 points at the break, and Okoye had 12, while Robinson scored 10 first-half points for the hosts.
Longwood and VMI traded baskets to start the second half, and another Robinson three-pointer had the Lancers within 53-38 at 16:37, while a layup by freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland made it 55-40 at 15:46. Okoye opened the half with eight quick points, including two three-pointers and a dunk, for the Keydets. VMI continued its momentum and took the lead out to 71-47 with 9:32 remaining with Brown scoring six points, including one of three, three-pointers during that stretch. It was 82-51 at 5:30 after a dunk by Okoye, and back-to-back dunks from Covington had the score at 86-55 with 3:14 to play. Jarid Watson closed the scoring with consecutive follow-up dunks in the final minute for the visitors who had 11 dunks to go along with the 11 three-pointers.
Carey led Longwood with his 13 points, adding a game-high three steals. Robinson had 12 points and three assists for the Lancers. Kessens finished with 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Woodhouse contributed five points and six assists. LU shot 36% (21-58) from the field, including 50% (7-14) on three-pointers and 100% (11-11) at the free throw line.
Okoye led VMI with his game-high 27 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Covington finished with his 25 points, adding eight rebounds and five blocks for the Keydets. Brown had 15 points, and Rodney Glasgow contributed five points and tied his career-high with a game-high 11 assists. VMI shot 58% (38-66) from the field, including 42% (11-26) on three-pointers and 67% (6-9) at the line.
Longwood and VMI were playing for the sixth time in the sport, and the Keydets lead the series, 4-2.
VMI will return home to host South Division opponent UNC Asheville on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
