VMI defeats Chattanooga 79-71

VMI Outlasts Chattanooga in Conference Showdown

Cameron Hall was electric on Saturday night as the VMI Keydets (79) edged out the visiting Chattanooga Mocs (71) in a crucial conference matchup.

The home team, led by Tan Yildizoglu's 22 points and 6 assists, built an early lead, holding the Mocs to just 23 points through the first half. The Keydets' strong defensive effort limited Chattanooga's offense, forcing 12 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

As the second half got underway, the Mocs made a push, outscoring VMI 48-40 and trimming their deficit to 8 points with just over two minutes remaining. However, Yildizoglu responded with a clutch three-pointer, propelling VMI back up by 10 points.

The Keydets' balanced attack allowed them to weather the Mocs' late surge. Alexander Daushvili's 14 points and 9 rebounds anchored VMI's strong rebounding effort, which outmatched Chattanooga's on the glass 27-24.

Billy Smith led the Mocs with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome VMI's stifling defense. The Keydets' ability to limit Chattanooga's three-point shooting (7/24) was a key factor in their victory.

In terms of advanced statistics, VMI's efficient field goal percentage (52.7%) and true shooting percentage (58.3%) were indicative of their strong team performance. Conversely, the Mocs struggled with their free throw attempt rate (44.4%), missing 4 of 9 attempts.

The win puts VMI in a favorable position within the conference standings, while Chattanooga's loss keeps them outside the top four.