VMI Basketball Earns First KenPom Top 100 Win Since 2008

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Entering Wednesday’s matchup against Furman (#76), the VMI Keydets (#238) were a full 162 spots behind the Paladins in the KenPom rankings. Vegas even had Furman as double-digit favorites despite VMI hosting the game at Cameron Hall. None of that mattered. The Keydets turned in a fantastic defensive effort, holding Furman to just 37 percent shooting, to pull a 74-73 upset.

The game was tied 73-73 after Furman’s Alex Hunter hit three free throws. On the ensuing possession, VMI freshman Trey Bonham was able to get to the line with three seconds left. He hit the first free throw to put VMI up, then missed the second to allow the remaining time to tick away. Bonham finished with 13 points.

Senior Greg Parham scored a game-high 24 points for the Keydets, who shot 47.1 percent from the field as a team. Sean Conway led the way from downtown, hitting 4-of-6 three-pointers to finish with 12 points. The Keydets, one of the best three-point shooting teams in the nation, shot 44 percent (11-of-25) from beyond the arc. Jake Stephens (15) also scored in double figures for VMI.

Prior to the win over Furman, the Keydets hadn’t won a game against a KenPom Top 100 team since beating Kentucky back in 2008.

VMI inched over the .500 mark with the win. They’re now 8-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play. They moved up 17 spots in the KenPom rankings with the win.