CHARLESTON S.C. - Charleston Southern put six players in double figures and shot better than 50 percent from the floor vs. the VMI Keydets at the CSU Field House on Monday, but still came up just short with a 93-90 loss. Another slim setback moved CSU's overall record to 5-8 and 1-2 in the Big South, while VMI improved to 12-2 and a league best 4-0 in the conference.

Big South scoring leader, Jamarco Warren, led the cast of hot shooters with 22 points on the night, including a 9-10 effort from the line. Kelvin Martin filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Freshman, Joel Lamb came off the bench to post his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Giedrius Knysas took advantage of his size to put up 16 points on 8-11 shooting. Tovi Bailey and Omar Carter chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The first half had 5 ties and 7 lead changes, setting the pace for a game that would come down to the wire. Martin scored on the first possession, but VMI responded with an 8-0 run. The Bucs never let the Keydets get too far out in front, and a Warren three put the score at 15-16 with 12:33 left in the half. CSU took the lead back after a Knysas layup with just over nine minutes left before halftime.

The Bucs traded baskets over the final minutes of the half and neither team seemed like they could miss. Each team led by three in that stretch, before heading to the locker room with a 43-44 deficit for CSU.

The Bucs came out and put up a 6-0 run in the second half, holding the Keydets scoreless for three and a half minutes. A Martin dunk capped off the run to put the score at 49-44 with 16:29 on the clock. CSU held a slight lead before a deadlock at 55-55 with 13:33 left in the game.

Two Warren free throws brought up the eighth and final tie of the game at 72 apiece, with 7:50 on the clock. VMI then surged for a 12-5 run, to take a 7 point advantage, the biggest lead of the game. CSU got as close as three, but the foul shooting contest started with 1:18 on the clock and an 81-87 score.

The Bucs took advantage of some missed foul shots by the Keydets, but also executed well, converting on every offensive possession in the last 80 seconds, except for the last one. A Carter three and four straight points from Martin made it a 2 point game with 17 seconds on the clock. VMI converted one of two foul shots to give the Bucs one last shot down three. Carter had two looks at the basket from behind the arc, but wasn't able to see it through the net, and CSU dropped a 90-93 decision.

The Bucs shot 50 percent from the floor, 92 percent from the line, and also out-rebounded the Keydets by 9. VMI however, let fly 37 threes and converted on 15 of them, which may have proved to be the difference.

The Keydets had a huge performance from Austin Kenon, who led all scorers with 26 points on 10-16 shooting. Hunter Houston and Willie Bell also had 18 and 17 points, respectively.

CSU will head on the road next, for a three game stretch away from campus. Their first matchup will be against the Liberty Flames on Saturday, January 10th, at 7 p.m.