February 24, 2003

Junior guard Ben Rand posted 20 points to help VMI past The Citadel, 58-49, in Southern Conference basketball action Monday evening in McAlister Field House.

"We did a good job not letting the crowd get into the game," VMI coach Bart Bellairs stated. "Our kids are really fighting hard right now and they will keep on fighting as we enter the Southern Conference tournament."

Rand, a South Boston, VA native connected on five-of-10 three point opportunities and added two rebounds. Junior forward Radee Skipworth added 11 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward Mike Gilbert scored 10 points and seven rebounds.

"We shot our threes pretty well tonight," Bellairs added. "We did a good job getting the big rebounds down the stretch."

The Keydets out rebounded the Bulldogs, 42-32, and connected on 38.1 percent of their three-point tries. The win moves VMI to 8-18, 3-12 in the Southern Conference.

"They did a good job tonight and hit some big shots on us down the stretch," Citadel head coach Pat Dennis stated. "We just didn't defend well tonight and I am really sorry for our seniors going out with a loss in their last game in McAlister."

Senior forward Michael Joseph was the only Bulldog in double figures as he scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The loss drops The Citadel to 8-18, 3-12 in the Southern Conference.

The Bulldogs return to action this Saturday as they travel to Spartanburg to take on Wofford at 7 pm, while VMI continues their road swing as they travel to Charlotte to take on Davidson on Saturday at 7 pm.