ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Keith Gabriel scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the first half as Virginia Military Institute advanced to the Big South Conference tournament semifinals by defeating Coastal Carolina 85-68 Wednesday.
The seventh-seeded Keydets (16-15), who had lost eight straight to the No. 2-seeded Chanticleers (19-11), scored nine consecutive points, seven by Gabriel, for an early 9-2 lead and never trailed again.
VMI, which shot 27.8 percent in an 81-64 loss to Coastal on Saturday, improved to 57.1 percent (28 of 49), including 14 of 28 on 3-pointers. Jordan Weethee, who had 15 points, made 5 of 6 3-pointers.
Coastal cut a 43-37 halftime deficit to 45-44 with 14:54 remaining before VMI scored the next 10 points.
