ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Keon Johnson drove from beyond mid-court to score with 1.5 seconds remaining as Winthrop rallied past VMI 58-57 in a wild finish Saturday, with two ties and four lead changes in the final 6 minutes.
The Eagles (10-8, 4-2 Big South) had trailed by as many as 15 before halftime in the contest between the conference’s best offense, VMI, and best defense. The Keydets (10-9, 3-3) had sprinted ahead 11-0 on a pair of Rodney Glasgow 3-pointers, but Winthrop’s defense began to bite after halftime. VMI was held to 34.5 percent shooting and its second-lowest score this season.
VMI started the second half with three misses and Winthrop’s Keon Moore and Keon Johnson got hot — hitting three straight 3-pointers (Moore 2, Johnson 1) on a 9-0 run, creating a 50-47 lead.
Moore finished with 18 points and Johnson 17.
D.J. Covington led VMI with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
