LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Cord Stansberry scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Western Carolina to a decisive 81-62 victory over Virginia Military Institute in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cameron Hall.

The Catamounts never trailed, using a stifling defensive effort and efficient offense to build a double-digit lead in the first half and steadily pull away from the struggling Keydets. Western Carolina improved to 12-15 overall, while VMI fell to 6-23.

The most important part of the game was Western Carolina’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure, which set the tone from the opening tip. The Catamounts forced five VMI turnovers in the first half, converting them into 12 points, and held the Keydets to just 30 points on 10-of-28 shooting before halftime. This defensive foundation allowed Western Carolina to overcome its own early shooting struggles and build a 38-30 lead at the break, a margin that proved insurmountable for a VMI team that never mounted a serious rally.

Stansberry, a 6-foot-4 guard from Bermuda Dunes, California, filled the stat sheet with his double-double and added four assists in 34 minutes. His performance anchored a balanced Western Carolina attack that saw four players score in double figures. Samuel Dada, a 6-foot-9 forward from Lagos, Nigeria, contributed 14 points and nine rebounds, just missing a double-double. Tidjiane Dioumassi added 15 points and four assists, and Marcus Kell chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.

The Catamounts were markedly more efficient, scoring 81 points on 64 possessions for an offensive rating of 126.4, compared to VMI’s 99.6 rating. Western Carolina shot 45.2% from the field and a sharp 88.2% from the free-throw line. They also dominated inside, outscoring VMI 28-16 in the paint and outrebounding them on the offensive glass 8-4.

Virginia Military Institute was led by Cal Liston and TJ Johnson, who each scored 12 points. Walker Andrews added 13 points off the bench. The Keydets struggled to find consistent offense, shooting 39.3% overall and just 7-of-11 from the foul line. Their 10 fast-break points were a bright spot but were negated by Western Carolina’s control in the half-court.

Western Carolina’s victory extends its winning streak to four games, its longest of the season, following conference wins over The Citadel, Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro. The Catamounts have now swept the season series with VMI, having won the previous meeting 88-58 on Jan. 24.

Virginia Military Institute has lost three straight and 10 of its last 11 games. The Keydets have not won a road game since Nov. 7.

The game drew an attendance of 2,284 to Cameron Hall. Western Carolina was a pregame favorite and covered the spread, while the total score fell well under the projected over/under line.

Western Carolina will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Mercer on Wednesday. Virginia Military Institute travels to face Samford on Thursday.