ETTRICK, Va. (November 10, 2017) – Under the leadership of Lonnie Blow Jr. in his fifth season, the Virginia State University men's basketball program will tip-off this weekend with a pair of games in the IRMC / Hilton Garden Inn Classic hosted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11.

The Trojans will face the University of Pitts-Johnstown on Friday at 5:15 p.m. and take on the host IUP on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Virginia State finished the 2016-17 season with a 22-8 overall and 13-3 conference record. The Trojans enters the classic with an extraordinary 72-67 win in overtime against the Division I Spartans of Norfolk State University. The Trojans battled through six lead changes and the four ties to come out on top in their first exhibition game of the 2017-18 season.

Newcomer Brandon Holley (Richmond, VA) led the Trojans in scoring with 19 points. Junior forward Philip Owens, II (Virginia Beach, VA) followed up, recording 11 points. Senior guards and Hampton natives Cyonte Melvin and Trey Brown both contributed 10 points, rounding out the double-digit scoring for the Trojans.

After last season's 19-11 campaign, a third straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament berth, and a second straight appearance in the conference quarterfinals, Pitt-Johnstown's head coach Bob Rukavina welcomes back three seniors and an a trio of other lettermen to navigate through a difficult PSAC schedule.

Live coverage for the classic will be accessed by clicking HERE.

For the most up-to-date information on VSU men's basketball, please visit www.govsutrojans.com and follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.