The third annual NBA HBCU Classic ended with the reigning CIAA champion Winston-Salem State Rams coming out with a 64-47 win over the Virginia Union Panthers.
Winston-Salem State has won three straight games, improving their overall record to 17-8, including an 11-5 record against the CIAA.
Meanwhile, Virginia Union dropped its third straight game, bringing them to 11-17 overall and 6-9 against the CIAA.
Ketron Shaw led all scorers with 15 points, shooting a perfect 6 of 6 from the field. He also recorded four rebounds and three assists.
Jaylen Alston stuffed the stat sheet,t posting a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double while adding three assists and three steals. Isaac Parsoalso had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 assists.
Tahj Harding overcame a slow start to lead Virginia Union with 11 points.
MBB: Final: Rams win the NBA HBCU Classic 64- 47 over Virginia Union!
The Rams will be back in action on February 22nd at Shaw at 7:30 pm pic.twitter.com/GySk6WLwzI— WSSU Athletics (@WSSU_Athletics) February 17, 2024
Winston-Salem State started the game by building a 6-0 lead thanks to its defensive pressure, forcing four Virginia Union turnovers in the first four minutes of the game.
It took the Panthers six minutes to score their first points of the game, but they did not stop them from eventually taking a 14-13 lead with nine minutes left in the first half.
After trading the lead back and forth, the Rams put the game firmly in their favor, ending the half with two straight 3-pointers to take a 33-24 lead.
Although VUU fought hard to keep themselves in the game, a 13-0 run down the stretch in which they went six minutes without scoring a point spelled the end for their hopes of winning.
