SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford men's basketball team held off the VMI Keydets on Wednesday evening, 82-76, in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
Kahmare Holmes led the Terriers with 22 points in his first game since late-January.
The Terriers (18-10, 10-5) were led by
Kahmare Holmes' 22 points; three other Terriers reached double-digits.
Cayden Vasko pulled down ten rebounds and dished out seven assists. Holmes had three steals on the night, while four Terriers had a block each.
"Our whole emphasis was, don't give up threes," said head coach
Kevin Giltner. "They take 33 threes a game. Game one, we held them to 24. Game two, we held them to 22. I am proud of our guys for following the game plan."
How It Happened
In his first game since January 29,
Kahmare Holmes got the first points for the Terriers with a mid-range jumper. Wofford struggled to find a flow from range early in the game. Going into the first media timeout, the Terriers were zero for four from behind the arc. VMI was able to surmount a five-point lead shortly after the stoppage, before
Chace Watley could grab a bucket for the Terriers. Wofford's slow offensive start was made worse with a hot start from the Keydets, who pushed their lead to ten heading into the under-12-minute timeout, 22-12.
An 8-2 run brought the Terriers back into striking distance of the Keydets. VMI pushed back with a four-point play conversion, but the Terriers continued their momentum with a 7-0 run, including two layups from Holmes, forcing a timeout from the VMI bench. The run pushed forward regardless, with
Brendan Rigsbee giving the Terriers their first lead of the night with seven minutes left in the half. With 18 straight points from Wofford, the Keydets found their first points after a seven-minute drought. Wofford persisted, finishing the half up by a 44-32 margin.
Nils Machowski opened the second half for the Terriers with a second-chance make, followed by a fast break layup from Watley. VMI struck with a quick 5-0 run to keep the game within ten points at the first media timeout of the half. The Keydets pushed the lead down to four after consecutive turnovers from the Terriers. A timeout from the Wofford bench helped the Terriers recoup, scoring on their next two possessions. This was not enough as VMI tied the game up with 11 minutes left in the game, 51-51.
The Keydets found the lead again after a turnover from Holmes. VMI was outscoring the Terriers in the half, 23-7, before
Cayden Vasko drained a three to give Wofford some offense. Jadyen Tyler gave Wofford the lead again with two points from the line. Holmes helped the Terriers amass a five-point lead, but VMI was able to tie the game back up from the line. Wofford was able to hold off the Keydets thanks to Vasko, who scored five during a short 8-2 run for the Terriers. The Terriers entered the final four minutes of the game with the lead, 70-66.
The teams went back and forth in the final minutes of the game.
Jayden Tyler drained a crucial three-pointer to lift the Terriers to a seven-point lead. This was followed by a sequence with three offensive rebounds, ending with Rigsbee converting both shots from the line. VMI began to foul the Terriers to save time. Wofford went three for four from the line to hold off the Keydets by an 82-76 final score.
Inside the Numbers
Up Next
The Terriers will stay at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium to host Furman on Saturday, February 21. The Paladins will come to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to face Wofford with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Listen along on the Wofford Digital Network or watch on ESPN+.
