LEXINGTON, Va. – The Citadel basketball team erased a 16-point first half deficit to hold a 60-59 edge with 2:45 to go but missed a potential game-tying three with .08 seconds left, falling 70-63 on Saturday afternoon.
Quentin Millora-Brown recorded his eighth double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 18 points to go along with 10 boards.
Madison Durr did a little bit of everything for The Citadel, chipping in 11 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
First Half:
- Bulldogs got off to a slow start as the Keydets raced out to a 14-6 edge, forcing a CIT timeout seven minutes into play.
- Back-to-back triples from VMI put it ahead 22-7.
- A mini 6-0 spurt by CIT cut the margin to 10, 25-15, at the 8-minute media timeout.
- A Keynan Davis corner three made it a four-point affair, 29-25 VMI, at the 4:21 mark as the Bulldogs fought back to trail by just six, 35-29, at the intermission.
Second Half:
- A QMB layup and one made it a one-possession game, 42-40 VMI, at the 14:31 mark of the second.
- CIT got within one point three times early in the second half but was unable to tie or take the lead as a VMI triple gave it a 51-47 advantage with eight minutes to go.
- The Bulldogs endured a 5-plus minute scoreless drought from the field but thanks to two VMI technical fouls, only trailed 55-52, with 5:20 remaining.
- A pair of Durr free throws gave CIT a 60-59 lead, its first since 2-0, seconds into the game before VMI answered with a three, 62-60 Keydets.
- AJ Smith drove and found QMB for an easy dunk to knot the game back up at 62-62 but a pair of VMI free throws gave it a slim 66-62 lead with 43.4 left.
- The Bulldogs got within three, 66-63, with 16.4 ticks on the clock and got a good look but missed a top-of-the-key 3-pointer as the Keydets made their free throws down the stretch to close out a 70-63 victory.
Up Next:
The Citadel returns to McAlister Field House on Wednesday, January 24 when it hosts Mercer at 7 pm.
