JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Jalen Riley came off the bench to score a career-high 32 points and collect five steals as East Tennessee State scorched VMI 98-88 in a Southern Conference game Friday night.

The team's sixth man, Riley's previous high-scoring effort (31) came against Western Carolina Dec. 3. He was 11 of 17 from the field, but missed all four of his three-point attempts.

A.J. Merriweather added 17 points and collected 10 rebounds for the Buccaneers (7-4, 2-1 Southern). The team shot 49.2 percent from the field (31 of 63), but struggled from distance, shooting 4 for 20 behind the arc.

ETSU now has won the last nine meetings with VMI.

VMI had six players score in double figures, led by QJ Peterson and Phillip Anglade, who scored 16 and 15 points, respectively. But the team collectively shot just 35.5 percent from the field (27 of 76).