VMI Keydets (5-18) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (9-14)
February 2, 2023 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: The Citadel Bulldogs -5 / VMI Keydets +5 ; Over/Under: 142
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The VMI Keydets and the Citadel Bulldogs meet Thursday in college basketball action from McAlister Field House. VMI is 5-18 so far this year. The Keydets lost to Western Carolina in their last outing. As for the Citadel, they’re 9-14 following a Monday loss to Chicago State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
VMI Keydets
VMI started out the year at 5-6, beating Penn State NK, Regent VA, Carlow, Navy and Radford. The Keydets are on a 12-game losing streak right now; they’ve fallen to the Citadel, UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina in their last trio.
On Saturday versus Western Carolina, the Keydets took a 32-26 deficit into the locker room. VMI kept the pace with 39 more points from there but still lost 71-65. Tyler Houser managed 23 points and five rebounds to lead the way.
The Citadel Bulldogs
Over on the Citadel side, they hit a 6-10 run through their first 16 games with wins over Presbyterian, Morris, New Orleans, IUPUI, Charleston Southern and Chattanooga. The Bulldogs are 3-4 since then with wins over Western Carolina (twice) and VMI.
Matched up against Chicago State on Monday, the Bulldogs were down 44-34 at the break. The Citadel fought back on a 41-32 second half but ended up losing 76-75. Austin Ash posted 24 points to lead the team.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably take the Citadel here. There’s not a lot to get excited about in this matchup, but it should be a fairly competitive game. The Bulldogs managed a 60-52 victory the last time these teams met up back on January 21 at Cameron Hall. The Citadel scored just 14 points in the first half in that one, but fought back after the break to take the win. VMI hasn’t cracked 67 points for six straight games, so a 70-ish point effort here should do it win-wise.
