Vereen's bucket gives VMI 70-69 win at Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Austin Vereen scored off a backdoor cut with six seconds left and VMI defeated Chattanooga 70-69 on Saturday.
The victory between the two teams in the Southern Conference cellar gave the Keydets (7-13, 2-7) consecutive wins at Chattanooga for the first time since winning their first two matchups contested there in 1978-79 and 1979-80.
The Mocs' Rodney Chatman was called for a travel after being caught in a backcourt trap with 12 seconds left. Bubba Parham found Vereen for the go-ahead dunk before Chatman missed a layup at the buzzer.
Parham scored a career-high 26 points and Garrett Gilkeson made all five of his 3-point attempts in posting career bests of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Joshua Phillips and James Lewis Jr. scored 15 points each for the Mocs (7-15, 1-8).
VMI was ahead 37-36 at the break and neither team led by more than five in the second half.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Bruce Benedict
- Jerome Hall
- Joey Richardson
2023-24 Southern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Samford | 15-3 | - | 29-6 |
UNC Greensboro | 12-6 | 3 | 21-11 |
Chattanooga | 12-6 | 3 | 21-12 |
Western Carolina | 11-7 | 4 | 22-10 |
Wofford | 10-8 | 5 | 17-15 |
Furman | 10-8 | 5 | 17-16 |
East Tennessee State | 8-10 | 7 | 19-16 |
Mercer | 8-10 | 7 | 16-17 |
The Citadel | 3-15 | 12 | 11-21 |
VMI | 1-17 | 14 | 4-28 |