CONWAY, S.C. – Stan Okoye scored 31 points as Virginia Military Institute hung on to defeat Longwood 90-86 Thursday in the Big South Conference quarterfinals after having a 17-point lead cut to two in the final 11:51.
A jumper by Lucas Woodhouse with 14 seconds remaining brought the Lancers (8-25) to within two, 88-86. After Brian Brown missed the second of two free throws for the Keydets (14-16), Rodney Glasgow's steal and subsequent free throw with 3 seconds left sealed the win.
Okoye was held to six points in the second half, but D.J. Covington finished with 26 points and Glasgow 22 for VMI, which will play Charleston Southern in the semifinals Saturday.
Freshman forward Michael Kessens led Longwood with a career-best 36 points and also had 16 rebounds. The Lancers, who beat UNC Asheville on Tuesday in their first tournament game as a Big South member, also got 16 points and nine assists from Woodhouse.
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