JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

VMI's Travis Holmes has an off-game in the Big South tournament championship game. Holmes scores 12 points, seven below norm.

RADFORD -- VMI's dream of going to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 32 years ended here Saturday. The Keydets can thank a 6-foot-11, 260-pound beast from Belarus for their long-shot journey falling one exit short of the big show.

VMI had absolutely no answer for Radford giant Artsiom Parakhouski and fell 108-94 in the Big South tournament championship game at a packed Dedmon Center.

"He was the difference in the game," VMI senior guard Chavis Holmes said. "It makes the job a little easier whenever you've got a 6-10 down there to throw it to in the post and you're pretty much guaranteed two points. They just ate us up down low."

Fueled by Parakhouski's 26 points and 18 rebounds, Radford outscored VMI 64-22 in the paint and finished with a 57-31 rebounding edge. Almost every one of the big fellow's baskets came from 3 feet and closer.

"Art was a house in there," VMI coach Duggar Baucom said. "He has no business playing in this league. He could play anywhere in the country."

Getting a lot of help from his 6-8 sidekick, Joey Lynch-Flohr, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Parakhouski enabled the Highlanders to finish with a staggering 28-4 edge in second-chance points.

A second chance. That's what the Keydets (24-8) will hope for now. It's not out of the question that the 32-team NIT and the two other events -- the 16-team CBI and the new 16-team College Insider.com Postseason Tournament -- could take a VMI club that figures to lead the country in scoring for a third consecutive season.

"I think there are 129 positions for tournaments now," Baucom said. "Certainly, there are not 129 teams that are 24-8. I think our style of play, with the [Holmes] twins, I would certainly hope to have a shot. I think if anybody from this league should get another opportunity, we should ... going into Rupp Arena and beating Kentucky, beating Richmond, and we have some other pretty good wins. It would be nice. Certainly, that's a popularity contest, so I won't stake my house on it or anything."

Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander said he planned on lobbying hard to get VMI a spot in the NIT.

"I think they're a good candidate for the NIT," Kallander said.

There was no nit-picking about VMI's start Saturday. The Keydets bolted out of the gate, hitting five of their first six shots, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, to score the game's first 13 points. While Radford woke up and responded with a 27-9 run, VMI managed to hang tight behind the hot shooting of Austin Kenon, who had 24 of his game-high 34 points in the first 20 minutes, as the Highlanders took a 50-46 lead to halftime.

After shooting 46.9 percent (15-for-32) in the first half, VMI's marksmanship fell considerably in the final 20 minutes. After freshman guard Keith Gabriel's 3-pointer gave them their last lead at 61-60 with 14:20 left, the Keydets went seriously cold from that point. Getting beaten up inside repeatedly by RU's two big men, the Keydets began to slow down and appeared to run out of gas.

Besides Kenon, Chavis Holmes was really VMI's only other offensive part working. He finished with 21 points. His twin brother, Travis, had an off-night, going 3-for-11 from the floor for 12 points, seven below his average. The Keydets shot only 31.8 percent (14-for-44), including 25 percent (7-for-28) from long range, in the final 20 minutes.

VMI also missed a lot of point-blank shots and turned the ball over an uncharacteristically high 19 times.

"I'm proud of my guys for fighting the way they did," Baucom said. "I don't think we played our best by any means, certainly we didn't shoot as well as we could. I have to credit Radford for their defensive scheme, some of the things they did to really limit our shooters' looks."

While they were disappointed to see their NCAA dream tanked, the Keydets marched out of the place with their heads held high. Their 24 wins marked the second most in program history.

"Of course, I'm disappointed," Chavis Holmes said. "But I love all my teammates. They were able to follow us this year, so they'll definitely have something to build off next year. We tried to lead them best we could. I don't feel like we let each other down. We do feel like we didn't play as good as we could have today.

"It's a good feeling where we've brought the program. Give lot of credit to Coach Baucom for the style we play and the job he's done recruiting people to fit his style. He's brought in some good players and I'm sure he will continue to recruit well, so I don't think this is the last you'll see of VMI."