RADFORD, Va. – Despite a 55.6 percent shooting effort from Radford, VMI knocked down 13 buckets from long range to earn an 87-72 victory in a Big South men's basketball first-place battle and the re-opening of the Dedmon Center on Wednesday night in front 3,066 fans.

The Keydets (15-3, 7-1 Big South) used 10 of their 13 threes to take control of the game in the opening 20 minutes, including four long balls in the game's first eight minutes to erase a 13-0 deficit. 

Then, ahead 23-22 with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half, VMI began to pull away from the Highlanders (9-10, 6-2) when Austin Kenon hit on four three-pointers over the next eight minutes, extending the lead to 46-30.

"VMI played a wonderful game tonight, and shot extremely well beyond the arc in the first half to open up the lead," said Radford head coach Brad Greenberg. "Their press forced us into turnovers, and we have to work on being able to handle pressure and defending a small, quick team." 

Kenon netted 15 in the first half and finished with a game-high 24 points, including seven three-pointers, to lead four in double-figures for VMI.  The Keydets also got 23 from Chavis Holmes, who hit on 8-of-14 tries from the field.

VMI, which leads the nation in scoring and made treys, shot 40.9 percent from the floor and 35.1 (13-of-37) percent from deep.

The VMI offensive attack bested a season-high shooting night by the Highlanders, which hit on 5-of-6 to start, opening up the 13-point advantage in the first 3:15 of the game. 

Radford made 54.2 percent of its tries in the first half, including a 5-for-5 performance from junior Joey Lynch-Flohr (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax), and finished 30-of-54 from the floor.

Lynch-Flohr posted 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting, while senior Kenny Thomas (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) and sophomore Chris McEachin (Norfolk, Va./Norview) each contributed 10 points.

"Our guys are disappointed, but I'm proud of what we've accomplished so far," Greenberg said.  "We have six wins in our first eight league games, and we look forward to the challenge of three-straight road games before returning to Dedmon."

For the Highlanders, it was the first game back in the newly-renovated Dedmon Center after playing their first nine home games at Peters Hall.

"The crowd was spectacular, and I can't say enough about the support we got from the student body," said Greenberg. "I encourage them to continue coming: it makes a big difference for our players."

The Highlanders held a 40-32 advantage on the glass.

VMI was 20-of-27 on free throws, while Radford hit just nine of its 21 tries from the stripe.

Radford will go back on the road for the first of three straight away from home beginning with a 7 p.m. contest at Liberty Saturday evening.

Box Score