LEXINGTON -- VMI found itself surrounded and seemingly trapped inside a foxhole dug by Coastal Carolina for the second time in 26 days. As they did Jan. 14 in Conway, S.C., the military guys somehow pulled off another great escape Saturday.

For the second time in less than in a month, the Keydets fought back from a 17-point deficit in the final 20 minutes to stun the Chanticleers again, and ended a frustrating five-game losing streak in an 88-83 Big South victory at Cameron Hall.

"I'm just happy for our guys," said VMI coach Duggar Baucom, whose troops haven't had much good happen the past three weeks. "It's nice to see everybody smiling around here again. We needed this."

Sparked by the return of star forward Reggie Williams to the lineup from a four-game hiatus from injury, VMI moved back to .500 at 11-11 with its first victory since the last time it saw this Coastal bunch. Using a similar Houdini-like script that worked magic in the two teams' first meeting, the Keydets outscored the Chanticleers 44-22 in the final 14 1/2 minutes to improve to 3-5 in league play.

"It's been a long time ... for us to finally get a win is big," said Williams, playing his first game in three weeks because of a deep left thigh bruise. "Yeah, this is big, with the whole corps being here, it's Alumni Weekend. Plus, we just needed to win."

VMI had plenty of heroes in this one. All but three of their 88 points came courtesy of five players. Junior forward Travis Holmes led the way with 24 points and game-high nine rebounds. Besides Williams' 17 points, freshman guard Christian Hunter and junior forward Willie Bell each contributed 15 points, and junior forward Chavis Holmes added 14.

Saying he's operating at "70 percent" from his lingering injury that was exacerbated by a burst blood vessel in his left thigh, Williams toughed it out, playing 37 minutes. The 6-foot-6 forward who entered the day with a Division I-best 27.3 scoring average couldn't drive with the ball like normal and primarily shot from the perimeter, hitting 7 of 17 shots, including only 2-for-9 from 3-point range.

"Oh God, yes, he makes a difference ... just to have him on the floor because you've got to guard him," Baucom said.

Unlike in three close home losses in their slide, the Keydets made some big shots down the stretch. None were bigger than a couple of back-to-back 3-pointers by Hunter, the second of which put VMI ahead for good at 80-79 with 2:31 left.

"Christian has made five of 10 [3-pointers] the last two games, and that's not bad for a freshman right out of the 'Rat Line,' " Baucom noted.

Bell's stickback and four free throws by Travis Holmes sealed the victory.

Guard Jack Leasure hit nine of 13 3-pointers before missing his final seven for a game-high 27 points for the Chanticleers.

COASTAL CAROLINA (11-11)

Johnson 4-9 3-5 11, Breeze 5-8 3-4 13, Sisinni 4-8 0-0 12, Long 2-4 0-0 6, Leasure 9-22 0-0 27, Brennan 3-6 1-2 7, Sexton 2-6 1-2 5, Ferguson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-64 8-13 83.

VMI (11-11)

Bell 6-9 2-2 15, Houston 0-1 0-0 0, Lonon 0-2 0-0 0, C.Holmes 6-16 0-1 14, T.Holmes 6-10 10-12 24, Brownfield 1-3 0-0 3, Maypray 0-1 0-0 0, Hunter 5-10 0-0 15, Williams 7-17 1-1 17. Totals 31-69 13-16 88.

Halftime--Coastal Carolina 44-35. 3-Point Goals--Coastal Carolina 15-35 (Leasure 9-20, Sisinni 4-7, Long 2-3, Johnson 0-1, Sexton 0-4), VMI 13-41 (Hunter 5-10, T.Holmes 2-6, Williams 2-9, C.Holmes 2-10, Bell 1-1, Brownfield 1-2, Houston 0-1, Maypray 0-1, Lonon 0-1). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Coastal Carolina 39 (Johnson 7), VMI 37 (T.Holmes 9). Assists--Coastal Carolina 22 (Long 8), VMI 16 (T.Holmes 8). Total Fouls--Coastal Carolina 15, VMI 13. A--2,807.