Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. – Julian Eleby scored a team-high 15 points and led five VMI players in double figures as the Keydets downed The Citadel 85-75 in Southern Conference basketball action at Cameron Hall on Saturday afternoon.
 
Eleby topped double figures by virtue of hitting 10-of-13 at the charity stripe and 2-of-6 from the floor. VMI finished 25-of-58 (43.1%) from the field and 10-of-28 (35.7%) from beyond the arc as a team.
 
Among individuals also reaching double digits for the Keydets (8-13, 4-6 SoCon) were Brian Brown (12), Trey Chapman (11), Tim Marshall (10) and Jordan Weethee (10).
 
With a four-point edge at the half, VMI put together a 31-10 run over the first eight minutes of the second half to stretch its lead to 66-41. The Keydets managed five 3-pointers in that span including one from Eleby, who was responsible for seven points during the spurt.
 
Pressure defense combined with an 8-for-8 outing at the free throw line allowed The Citadel (8-12, 3-6) to slowly chip away at the 25-point deficit. The Bulldogs backcourt of Marshall Harris III, Ashton Moore and Warren Sledge combined to score 18 of the teams 24 points during a lengthy 24-12 run that made for a 77-65 contest.
 
Four points from Horgan and three by Moore was not enough to counter the timely shooting of Marshall and Phillip Anglade as VMI held firm to its 82-71 lead with just over a minute left.
 
The Dogs pulled within eight, following a jumper from just inside the arc by Quinton Marshall, but it was not enough as the Keydets earned their third straight victory against The Citadel in the longstanding rivalry.
 
The Citadel's offensive attack was led by Moore who scored 20 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor and a 6-of-8 outing at the free throw line. It marks the 23^rd time in his Bulldog career that Moore has scored at least 20 points.
 
Teammate P.J. Horgan also had a solid outing for the Dogs as he finished with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It is the seventh double-double of Horgan's career and fourth this season.
 
Horgan was 4-of-11 from the field, but managed to knock down 6-of-8 at the free throw line. His 14 caroms, six on the offensive glass, were a game-high.
 
Virginia native Brian White rounded out The Citadel's collection of double-digit scorers as he came through with 10 points and three boards. White was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line while hitting 2-of-2 from the field.
 
The first half of the game was defined by a combined 29 fouls, including 15 on VMI, as the two teams battled to a 35-31 score by the intermission.
 
The choppy pace of the game did not allow either team to get into an offensive rhythm as The Citadel closed the half hitting 8-of-25 (32%) from the floor and VMI was slightly better at 11-30 (36.7%).
 
Leading 11-6 at the 14:54 mark, after a layup by the Dogs' Quinton Marshall, VMI put together an 8-4 run that included five points from Brian Brown and a 3-pointer off the hand of Michael Donovan that provided them with the largest lead of the half.
 
A jumper by Bray coupled with four free throws by White drew The Citadel within three, 19-16. The game reached a 19-all tie when Wright buried a long distance 3-pointer from the right wing at the 10:07 mark.
 
The Citadel assumed a 25-21 lead on a trey by Moore, but VMI by scoring nine of the next 14 points, including a layup by Craig Hinton and free throws by Christian Burton, to draw even at 30.
 
The Keydets capitalized on baskets by Jarid Watson and Christian Burton to close out the frame on a 5-1 run.
 
The Bulldogs will enjoy a week off before heading to Chattanooga, Tenn., to face off against the Mocs for the second time this season. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
 
The Citadel returns home on Feb. 5 to take on Mercer and quickly follows with a meeting against UNCG two days later. In that homestand Bulldog fans are encouraged to participate by donating non-perishable items at the games as part of the SoCon Hoops Against Hunger initiative.
 
Hoops Against Hunger, in partnership with the Brad Daugherty Foundation, brings together the basketball community along with public, private, and sports organizations as well as local and national sponsors to help provide meals for students who may not have enough to eat at home during the extended holiday breaks from school.