Brian Stone

Bulldogs Host UNCG Wednesday, Keydets on Saturday

2/13/2024 11:24:00 AM

By: The Citadel Athletics

GAME NOTES

BUCKET HAT GIVEAWAY ON WEDNESDAY

FIRST TIME AROUND at UNCG (1.17.24)

A Durr top of the key 3-pointer halted an 8-0 UNCG run to trim the margin to 17-12 eight minutes into play.
Morgan found Keynan Davis for a fastbreak three as CIT took its first lead of the night, 20-19, but UNCG responded with a 12-2 run, forcing CIT to take a timeout.
The Bulldogs had to endure a 5-plus minute scoreless drought as the Spartans extended the lead to 11, 33-22, before an easy bucket by Smith stopped the drought.
UNCG answered with another three, 36-24, but Durr's three-point play with 17 seconds left in the half cut the deficit to single digits, 38-29, at the break.
The Bulldogs came out of the locker room on an 11-0 run as Elijah Morgan's hit from beyond the arc put CIT ahead 40-38.
A Spartans dunk put them back up by five, 47-42, six minutes into the second stanza.
Pigram found Morgan for a jumper to knot the game at 47-47 halfway through the second before Morgan's stepback three tied the game at 51-51 at the 7:48 mark.
UNCG nudged the margin to five, 58-53, before Morgan's fifth triple of the game pulled CIT within two, 60-58, with 4:23 left.
With 2:23 to go, a free throw pushed the Spartans edge to five, 63-58, before a Bulldogs' turnover led to another bucket and a CIT timeout.
Smith's put back layup got CIT within five, 67-62, before Morgan's sixth make from long range cut it to four, 69-65, with 14.6 ticks on the clock.
The Spartans made 6-of-6 free throws in the waning moments to close out a 73-67 home win.

PLAYER TO WATCH

#2 Mikeal Brown-Jones for UNCG dropped 39 points on 14-of-21 shooting in the first matchup. The VCU transfer ranks second in league play in scoring (21.8 ppg), third in field goal percentage (55.6%) and fifth in rebounding (8.5 rpg).

FIRST TIME AROUND at VMI (1.20.24)

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.

PLAYER TO WATCH

#1 Brennan Watkins recorded 14 points, six rebounds and six assists in the first matchup.
.The 5-11 junior ranks third in SoCon play in free throw percentage (84.4%), 12th in assists (2.8 apg) and 13th in scoring (15.1 ppg),

The Citadel Athletics