DeVonte' Williams (freshman/Hampton, VA) carried the Trojans to their second win of the season, scoring a career-high 19 points and adding 6 assists against the Blue Bears of Livingstone College. The Trojans held the Blue Bears to 37% shooting from the field.

The Trojans snapped an eight game losing streak with a win in their conference home opener against the Blue Bears. Virginia State made their mark on the defensive end of the floor holding Livingstone to just under 30% shooting in the first half (8-27). The Trojans scored 7 points off of nine Blue Bear's turnovers. Virginia State went into the half ahead 25-23, led by Khalil Tate's (sophomore/Washington, DC) 7 first half points.

The Trojans returned from the break and continued to enforce their will on the defensive end of the floor by never allowing Livingstone to take a second half lead. Kenny Mitchell (junior/Stone Mountain, GA) knocked down a pair of free-throws with 13:51 left in the half giving the Trojans their biggest lead, 35-27. The Blue Bears kept chipping away at the Trojans lead, cutting to within a single point at 5:04 mark in the second half.

The Blue Bears fouled Khalil Tate with 11 seconds left in regulation with the score tied at 54-54. Tate knocked down both free-throws calmly putting the Trojans back up by 2 points. Livingstone's Trone Jackson then raced down the court and tried to score a quick basket but missed at point blank range with a single second left to play. Livingstone fouled DeVonte' Williams on the inbounds play, he downed two more free-throws to seal the Virginia State's second win of the season.

The visiting Blue Bears attempted to keep the game close but the Trojans kept the ball in their freshmen point guard's hand allowing him to make play after play. DeVonte Williams scored 16 points in the second half carrying the Trojans offensively. He finished 2 of 2 from long range and also made 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Mitchell recorded a double-double scoring 16 points with 12 tough rebounds and Tate added 11 points.

The Trojans (2-13. 1-4) return to action Sunday in the Richmond Coliseum, taking on Virginia Union. Tip is at 7:30 p.m. for the Richmond Freedom Classic.