JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 7, 2026) - The ETSU men's basketball team got a star turn from its frontcourt on Wednesday as Cam Morris III and Blake Barkley combined for 45 points and 14 rebounds in an 81-67 win over VMI at Freedom Hall. Morris scored his 1,000th career point in the second half and tied a career-best with 25 while Barkley added the third 20-point game of his redshirt sophomore season. 

The Buccaneers (11-5, 3-0) never unleashed a big, knockout-type run on the Keydets (6-10, 1-2), with their largest run being a 13-2 second half stretch that Barkley capped with a dunk with 5:49 remaining. Consistency for 40 minutes won the day as the Bucs shot better than 50% from the field in both halves while holding VMI under 40% for both halves and the full game as well as just six made threes, half their SoCon-leading average. 

Morris and Barkley were at the center of that offensive execution, shooting a combined 17-for-21 from the field, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 9-for-12 at the free throw line. Wednesday's game was the second time this season two Buccaneers have scored 20 or more points in a game, joining Morris and Brian Taylor II against Morehead State on November 21. Taylor failed to reach double-digit points for just the second time this season but led the Bucs with six assists. Allen Strothers' five assists moved him past Greg Stephens for ninth all-time at ETSU. Jaylen Smith contributed 13 points off the bench, his fourth straight game in double figures. 

ETSU is 3-0 in SoCon play for the first time since the 2018-19 season when they started SoCon play with a six-game winning streak. They are tied with Wofford atop the SoCon standings through three games and host UNCG on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Freedom Hall. Tickets are available at ETSUTickets.com. 

For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.