ETSU beats VMI, ties program record with 16th straight win

Feb 10, 2018, 08:08 pm

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Jalan McCloud had 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and Devontavius Payne scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, to help East Tennessee State beat VMI 70-56 on Saturday.

ETSU (22-4, 13-0 Southern Conference) tied a program record with its 16th consecutive win, the second-longest active win streak in the nation. The Bucs, who have won six straight against VMI, also won 16 in a row in the 2003-04 season.

Desonta Bradford had nine points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals and Mladen Armus added a career-high tying 10 rebounds for ETSU.

McCloud made a 3 and a layup before Bradford converted a 3-point play to give the Buccaneers a 50-41 lead midway through the second half. Garrett Gilkeson made back-to-back baskets to pull VMI within six with eight minutes to play, but Payne answered with a 3 to spark a 9-2 spurt and ETSU led by double figures the rest of the way.

Gilkeson had 14 points, Jordan Ratliffe scored 12 and Bubba Parham 11 for VMI (7-17, 2-11). The Keydets have lost four in a row.