AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—Northern Colorado could’ve tried to slow the pace against VMI, the top-scoring team in the nation last season.
Or, the Bears could beat the Keydets at their own game.
Sean Taibi scored 22 points and Jabril Banks added 21 as Northern Colorado held off VMI for a 104-97 win in the first game of the Air Force Classic on Friday night.
“We knew from watching the film that we could play with them,” Taibi said. “This feels great.”
The Bears (1-0) feel like they’ve turned the corner in coach Tad Boyle’s second season in charge. The team went 4-24 last year.
“When (people) look at the score, everyone is going to be surprised like, ‘Northern Colorado?’ Oh yeah, we’re here,” said Banks, who finished a perfect 7-of-7 from the field. “This could be a statement game.”
The Bears will play Air Force in the championship game Saturday night after the Falcons beat Dartmouth 67-38 in the late game. VMI plays the Big Green.
The Keydets (0-1) were led in scoring by Chavis Holmes with 27 points. Holmes spent more than 10 minutes on the bench after picking up his fourth foul early in the second half. He fouled out with 2:09 remaining.
Reggie Williams, who led the nation in scoring last season, finished with 22 points. He averaged 28.1 points a game in 2006-07.
Will Figures finished with 20 points and Jefferson Mason had 14 points. Taibi hit four 3-pointers and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Banks’ layup with just under three minutes remaining gave Northern Colorado a 95-85 lead. The Keydets couldn’t whittle down the deficit as the Bears hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 2:09.
The Bears led 52-49 at halftime thanks to numerous trips to the free throw line. Northern Colorado hit 19-of-30 from the line in the first half.
The team finished 31-for-47 at the free throw line in the game.
“It turned into more of a free throw shooting contest than I might’ve liked,” VMI coach Duggar Baucom said. “Give them credit, they had a great game plan and they came after us. They were real good in keeping up the pressure.”
That was precisely the plan.
“We went right at them and we played just well enough defensively to win,” said Boyle, whose team is eligible to compete in postseason play this season after making the transition to Division I.
The Bears were aware of Williams’ whereabouts at all times. They didn’t give him a moment’s peace.
That’s with good reason. Williams helped power a high-octane VMI offense last season that finished No. 1 in the country in points (100.9), assists (20.6), steals (14.8) and 3-pointers (13.4) per game last season.
“If he scores 50 and we score 52, that’s fine,” Taibi said. “He’s one player. He’s a great player.”
It’s the first time VMI has played West of the Mississippi since going to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the Top of the World Classic in 2003.
The Keydets were picked to finish third in the Big South Conference in a preseason poll. They finished 14-19 last season.
