Basketball Hosts Mercer for Coaches vs. Cancer Week on Wednesday

1/23/2024 1:03:00 PM

GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT

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.
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.

DURR-TASTIC

The sophomore has registered double-digit point efforts in all six SoCon games.
The SoCon All-Freshman team member from a season ago currently ranks 11th in rebounding (6.7 rpg) 13th in scoring (14.3 ppg) and T-15 in steals (1.2 spg) in league play.

IF THIS, THEN THAT...

With a win, The Citadel would snap a three-game skid to Mercer with all three loses coming a season ago.
With a loss, the Bulldogs would fall to 1-9 against the Bears in the last 10 contests.

E FROM THREE!

Elijah Morgan sits a top The SoCon in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.4% (56-of-129).
The New Orleans native is also tied for first in the league in made threes per game at 2.9.
The guard has also scored at least 15 points in 5-of-6 conference games, averaging 17.8 ppg, good for sixth in league play.

BATTLE OF THE BOARDS

VMI was only the third opponent to outrebound The Citadel in a game this season, the second to do so by just one board (College of Charleston).

PLAYER TO WATCH

#5, Graduate transfer Jalyn McCreary paces the Bears in scoring (14.4), rebounding (4.8), steals (1.3), blocks (1.1) while also being second in FG% (51.4%).

The Citadel Athletics