Virginia Union silenced one of the nation’s top teams.
The Panthers grinded out a stunning 52–46 upset over No. 2 seed West Liberty in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Atlantic Regional.
Fueled by suffocating defense and a standout performance from Bobby Gardner, who poured in 23 points, the Panthers earned their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2023.
Noah Richardson-Keys added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Malachi Dark chipped in nine points. On the glass, O’Maundre Harris anchored the effort with nine rebounds, supported by Nehemiah Johnson with seven.
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Head Coach Jay Butler praised his team’s toughness in the face of West Liberty’s relentless attack.
“Hats off to West Liberty,” Butler said. “They’re a very talented team, and we have to simulate their pressure in practice just to prepare. I told our guys we’ve been No. 1 in defense all year — it was time to show the world how good we are defensively.”
With the win, Virginia Union advances to face No. 6 seed Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 5 p.m. Sunday.
