LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Linus Holmstrom scored 23 points to guide Virginia Military Institute to an 86-70 men’s basketball victory over Loyola Maryland on Tuesday night at Cameron Hall. The Keydets (5-7) seized control with a 51-point first half, building a 19-point lead by intermission. The Greyhounds (4-7) could not recover despite 21 points from Emmett Adair and 17 from Braeden Speed. Holmstrom added four assists for VMI, which also got 17 points from TJ Johnson and 14 points and six assists from Tan Yildizoglu. A crowd of 2,831 saw the Keydets outscore the Greyhounds 7-3 off turnovers. The combined score of 156 points fell under the betting over/under line of 150.5.

LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half shooting display from Linus Holmstrom propelled Virginia Military Institute to a commanding early lead it would never relinquish, as the Keydets defeated Loyola Maryland 86-70 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Cameron Hall. Holmstrom, a junior guard from Stockholm, Sweden, scored 20 of his game-high 23 points before halftime, connecting on six three-pointers during the opening period. His offensive explosion was the catalyst for a 51-point first-half outburst by the Keydets, who built a 19-point halftime advantage and withstood a more competitive second half from the visiting Greyhounds. The most important stretch of the game came in the opening minutes, as VMI (5-7) set an immediate and overwhelming tone. Holmstrom sank a three-pointer just five seconds into the contest, and after a Loyola free throw, he buried another on the next possession. The early flurry sparked a 15-2 run that gave the Keydets a double-digit lead before the first media timeout. Holmstrom’s shooting, often facilitated by fellow guard Tan Yildizoglu of Istanbul, Turkey, who finished with 14 points and six assists, consistently stifled any attempt by Loyola to establish momentum. Virginia Military Institute shot a scorching 51.4% from the field in the first half and led by as many as 22 points. The Keydets’ ball movement was sharp, generating open looks against a Loyola defense that struggled to contain the perimeter. Holmstrom’s performance was a season-best, surpassing his previous high of 12 points set just four days earlier against Christendom. Loyola Maryland (4-7), which entered the game having allowed 93 points in a loss to Hampton, found itself in a familiar defensive struggle early. The Greyhounds were led by Emmett Adair, a 6-foot-9 forward from Sydney, Australia, who scored 21 points, and Braeden Speed of Phoenix, Arizona, who added 17. They combined for 20 points in the second half as Loyola outscored VMI 38-35 after the break, cutting the deficit to as few as 12 points on several occasions. Each Greyhounds rally, however, was met with a timely response from the Keydets. When Loyola trimmed the lead to 69-57 with just over nine minutes remaining, VMI’s TJ Johnson of Belton, Texas, answered with a three-pointer. Johnson finished with 17 points. Later, after a three-pointer by Loyola’s Jordan Stiemke made it 79-70 with under five minutes to play, the Keydets closed the game on a 7-0 run, sealing the victory at the free-throw line. The game’s statistical profile underscored VMI’s efficient offense. The Keydets edged Loyola in points off turnovers, 7-3, and fast-break points, 8-7, while both teams scored nearly evenly in the paint. The total attendance was 2,831 at Cameron Hall. With the win, Virginia Military Institute improves to 5-7 on the season, while Loyola Maryland falls to 4-7. The Keydets’ victory was projected by National Statistical’s ELO system, which gave them a 69% probability to win. The combined score of 156 points fell under the betting over/under line of 150.5. Virginia Military Institute now looks ahead to a road game at Radford on Dec. 21. Loyola Maryland returns home to host Mount Saint Mary’s on Dec. 13.

Preview: Loyola Maryland Greyhounds at Virginia Military Institute Keydets LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum before conference play begins will meet Tuesday when the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds visit the Virginia Military Institute Keydets at Cameron Hall. Both teams enter the nonconference matchup with identical 4-6 records, though their paths have diverged recently. Loyola Maryland looks to rebound from a 93-71 road loss at Hampton on Dec. 3. The Greyhounds had won two of their previous three, including a 101-51 rout of Division III Washington College and a 95-84 victory over Coppin State. VMI snapped a six-game losing streak with an 89-36 win over Christendom, an NAIA program, on Dec. 5. The Keydets’ skid included losses to Stetson, Richmond and UCF. A key matchup will feature the backcourts. Loyola Maryland is led by guard Braeden Speed, who is averaging 12.2 points and 3.4 assists per game. Speed scored 21 points in a win over Stonehill and 16 in a close loss to Fairfield. He had 14 points in the loss to Hampton. VMI counters with guard Linus Holmstrom, who nearly posted a double-double with 12 points and nine assists against Christendom. Holmstrom had a season-high 25 points in a win over Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 12. In the Greyhounds’ last outing, Jordan Stiemke led the team with 16 points against Hampton, while Jacob Theodosiou added 14. For VMI in its win, TJ Johnson scored a game-high 22 points and Walker Andrews added 17. The game represents a final tune-up before both teams turn their focus to league schedules. Loyola Maryland opens Patriot League play on Jan. 3 against Lafayette. VMI begins its Southern Conference slate on Jan. 1 against Samford. Tuesday’s contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. EST tipoff.