ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a Southern Conference tournament quarterfinal defined by offensive surges, UNC Greensboro weathered a spectacular shooting display from Virginia Military Institute’s Linus Holmstrom before pulling away late for an 84-70 victory Friday at Kimmel Arena.

The Spartans, the home team on the neutral court, closed their season at 14-18. The Keydets’ difficult campaign ended at 6-26.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived midway through the second half, just as VMI threatened to erase a double-digit deficit. The Keydets, fueled by Holmstrom’s long-range accuracy, had clawed to within 59-55 with 11 minutes remaining. UNC Greensboro’s KJ Younger, who finished with a game-high 29 points, then took over. He converted a driving layup, drew a foul on the next possession to sink two free throws, and moments later added another layup. This personal 6-0 run, part of a larger 10-2 Spartan surge, stretched the lead back to 69-57 and effectively stifled VMI’s momentum for good.

Younger’s clutch performance provided the consistent offensive punch the Spartans needed. He added three assists and was instrumental in responding every time the Keydets made a push.

Holmstrom, a sophomore guard from Stockholm, Sweden, was brilliant in defeat, scoring 24 points and igniting VMI’s offense with a flurry of three-pointers. He made three consecutive shots from beyond the arc early in the second half, part of a 9-2 run that briefly gave the Keydets a 48-47 lead—their first since the opening minutes.

UNC Greensboro answered immediately with a 7-0 run to reclaim control and never trailed again, but Holmstrom’s shooting kept the pressure on. He finished 6 of 13 from three-point range, single-handedly keeping VMI within striking distance.

The Spartans established control early with a 12-2 run to open the game, capitalizing on VMI turnovers and missed shots. They led 39-27 at halftime, but the Keydets reversed the script after the break, outscoring UNC Greensboro 21-8 over the first six minutes to take their short-lived lead. The game transformed from a defensive struggle in the first half to a fast-paced shootout in the second.

UNC Greensboro’s balance ultimately proved decisive. Justin Neely provided 14 points off the bench, while Donald Whitehead orchestrated the offense with 13 points and five assists. Lilian Marville added five points and five assists, and his backcourt defense helped force 16 VMI turnovers.

For Virginia Military Institute, Tan Yildizoglu of Istanbul, Turkey, contributed 13 points and four assists. TJ Johnson scored 15 points, and Kaden Stuckey of Mono, Canada, added 12 points and several key defensive plays, including a block.

The Spartans shot 46% from the field for the game, compared to 38% for the Keydets. UNC Greensboro also held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 15 of 19 attempts while VMI hit 10 of 17.

The game was the final contest for both teams this season. UNC Greensboro improved to 3-0 against VMI this year, having swept the regular-season series. Virginia Military Institute’s season concludes, while the Spartans’ victory, though not advancing them further in the tournament, provided a positive finish to a challenging year.