LEXINGTON, Va. (Feb. 6, 2026) - To stay on top in the Southern Conference, ETSU has to go north. 

The Buccaneers men's basketball team will make its final trip north of Bristol in 2025-26 when they visit the VMI Keydets Saturday at 1:00pm. 

MATCHUP: ETSU (17-7, 9-2) at VMI (6-18, 1-10) 
DATE: February 7, 2026, 1:00pm 
VENUE: Cameron Hall (Lexington, VA) 
TV: ESPN+ 
RADIO: WXSM-AM 640 (Jay Sandos) 
LIVE STATS: VMIKeydets.com 

ETSU retained the outright top spot in the SoCon by rallying from a 15-point second-half deficit on Wednesday to beat Furman 75-71 in overtime. Blake Barkley led the way with 15 points while Jaylen Smith scored 13 with three crucial threes, including the game-tying shot with 15 seconds left in regulation to force OT. Jordan McCullum has scored in double figures in consecutive games for just the third time this season after posting 14 against the Paladins. 

The Keydets have been rocked by injuries this season. Only Cal Liston has appeared in all 24 games for VMI, and SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Rickey Bradley Jr. has yet to see the floor this season. VMI has lost nine straight games, beginning with their 81-67 loss to ETSU on January 7 at Freedom Hall.  

ETSU seeks its second season sweep of the SoCon portion of the season on Saturday. The Bucs own the all-time series by a wide margin, 62-15, and are 28-2 against VMI in the 21st century. VMI's only two wins in the series were in Lexington on January 15, 2015, and January 29, 2022. 

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