LEXINGTON, Va. ? The Presbyterian College men's basketball team put forth a valiant effort Monday evening, but fell to Big South leader VMI at Cameron Hall, 90-75 in front of 2,105 fans.

The Blue Hose stand at 6-11 on the year and 3-3 in Big South play while the Keydets improved to 14-2 overall and 6-0 against conference competition.

Al'Lonzo Coleman posted a team-high 19 points to go along with a game-best 16 rebounds, pacing five student-athletes for PC in double figures, but the team was unable to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit.

Bryan Bostic earned his first start since being injured and reciprocated with 17 points and nine rebounds to go along with three assists, a block and a steal.

Travis Sligh posted 13 points and seven boards while a fourth starter, Josh Johnson, netted 10 points. Chase Holmes, coming off the bench, tallied 12 points and four rebounds.

The Blue Hose virtually had better statistics in every category except for the scoreboard. The team combined to shoot 27-of-58 from the floor for 46.6 percent. PC out-rebounded the host squad 50-33.

The contest was fairly even in the other statistical categories as each team notched five blocks and both had 14 assists. The biggest difference in the game was the fact that the Blue Hose had 24 miscues while forcing just 10. VMI had 24 points off the turnovers while PC converted the mistakes into 10 points.

Thanks in part to the Blue Hose's front line, PC dominated the paint, outscoring the Keydets 42-18 in the lane. Head coach Gregg Nibert's defense held the fast-breaking home team to just four points in the transition game.

After a three-point bucket 10 seconds into the game by Austin Kenon, PC knotted the score on Johnson's trey at the 18:11 mark. The score remained low at the first media timeout, tied at 5-5. The Blue Hose took their first lead of the game at the 15:15 mark when Coleman sank both free throws, giving the visitors a 7-5 advantage.

A three-pointer by VMI gave the team back the lead, 8-7. However, Holmes gave the lead right back to Nibert's squad at the 14:53 mark on a runner in the lane. The teams traded buckets through the first eight minutes until Holmes' charity toss tied the game at 16-16 with 11:53 to go in the half.

VMI went on a 7-0 run spanning just under 90 seconds, giving the Keydets a 23-16 advantage. There was no quit in PC as the Garnet and Blue went on a run of its own, taking a one-point edge at the 7:33 mark. Johnson found Holmes for a long bomb as the Blue Hose took a 27-26 lead. VMI quickly answered with a three-pointer, giving the home team a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the game.         

Trailing by 14 just 2:30 into the second stanza, PC went on one of its patented runs, slicing the deficit to seven with 14:13 to go. Everyone got into the act during the spurt as Coleman made a few lay-ups, Sligh hit a foul shot, Holmes nailed a jumper and Johnson sneaked inside for an easy two.

VMI was quick to answer, going on a 10-0 run to essentially put the game away as PC was unable to pull within single digits the remainder of the match-up.

The Blue Hose return home for a Saturday evening affair against Charleston Southern. The contest marks the second game of a doubleheader as the PC women's team tips off at 5 p.m.