JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday, John Buggs III delivered an incredible performance, pouring in a career-high 33 points and setting a new benchmark for East Tennessee State by hitting 10 out of 16 attempts from beyond the arc. His remarkable shooting helped the Buccaneers secure an 84-69 victory over VMI, marking an impressive start to their Southern Conference season with a record of 1-0 and an overall record of 8-6.

Buggs’ shooting display came just one short of the school record of 11 3-pointers, previously held by Patrick Good. In addition to Buggs’ standout performance, Jaden Seymour made history by recording the third triple-double in the program’s history, finishing the game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Quimari Peterson contributed solidly as well, scoring 12 points to bolster the Buccaneers’ offense.

On the opposing side, Rickey Bradley Jr. led the Keydets with a well-rounded effort, scoring 14 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Linus Holmstrom matched Bradley’s output with another 14 points, while TJ Johnson supported the team with 13 points and seven rebounds. The Keydets ended the night with an overall record of 6-8 and a Southern Conference record of 0-1.

Before the halftime break, East Tennessee State and VMI were locked in a tightly contested game, each team scoring 38 points. East Tennessee State, driven by Seymour’s 13 points in the first half, managed to take control of the game decisively after Peterson’s 3-pointer put them ahead for good with 17:02 remaining in the contest.