LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Stan Okoye’s 18 points and 10 rebounds Thursday night helped Virginia Military Institute equal its best start in 25 years with a 65-55 victory over Jacksonville State.
VMI is 4-0 for the first time since 1985-86 and just the third time ever. It will try for its first 5-0 start next Tuesday against Southern Virginia.
Okoye led the way with his third consecutive double-double, and Keith Gabriel added 15 points. Eight of Gabriel’s points came in the game’s last 5:26, including a 3-pointer with 4:51 left that triggered a 9-1 spurt.
Nick Murphy led all scorers with 20 points for Jacksonville State (1-2). Though the Gamecocks led 33-32 at halftime, their 22.6-percent, second-half shooting (7 of 31) undermined their bid to remain in front.
The Keydets weren’t much better, shooting 30 percent in the second half (6 of 20), but hit 19 of 25 from the free-throw line.
