:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27641671/20131112_ajl_bb4_225.0.jpg)
The biggest question coming into tonight's game between UNC Asheville and VMI was when was the game going to start? The game was bumped up from 7 PM to 5 PM because of incoming inclement weather, then this happened...
On the way to game in Asheville. Not sure we make it on time. http://t.co/TX4sjzMHdh
— Jason Allison (@JAllison10) January 28, 2014
No, Coach Allison, you're not going to make it on time...
Stiff legs and a long bus ride didn't slow down the Keydets after a tip-off that came closer to 6 PM than 5. Asheville and the Keydets combined for 111 points in the first half alone, as the Bulldogs led 56-55 at the break.
The second half continued the high octane offense of the first but the Keydets started to stretch out a bit of a lead in the last six minutes of the game. Asheville had multiple chances to claw back into the game as Rodney Glasgow, Jordan Weethee, and Q.J. Peterson all missed key free throws in the last minute. Unfortunately, for Bulldogs' fans, David Robertson, Andrew Rowsey, and Corey Littlejohn whiffed on big three point buckets that would have brought Asheville within striking distance. VMI would escape with a 109-105 victory and move to 4-3 in Big South play.
The game may have been a preview between two of the region's best freshman guards in VMI's Q.J. Peterson and Asheville's Andrew Rowsey. Here is a snapshot of the evening for the two budding stars:
| Andrew Rowsey | Q.J. Peterson | |
| FGM-A | 10-18 | 13-22 |
| 3PM-A | 5-11 | 4-9 |
| FTM-A | 11-11 | 8-10 |
| Points | 35 | 37 |
| Assists | 7 | 4 |
| Rebounds | 3 | 15 |
Rowsey and Peterson weren't the only two on fire tonight. Rodney Glasgow was the second Keydet with a double-double as he posted 35 points and 10 assists. D.J. Covington was the only other Keydet in double-figures with 13 points, 6 blocks, and 5 rebounds.
Asheville had two double-doubles of their own in the loss. Jaron Lane had 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, while D.J. Cunningham added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 blocks.
To say this was a wild night would be the understatement of the year.
VMI will look to end their rhythm of winning a game and then losing a game in conference play when they host struggling Presbyterian on Friday night. Asheville will travel to Willett Hall to take on a Longwood teams that has won two-straight Big South games.
