WHEELING, W.Va. (Nov. 24)– The Virginia State University men's basketball team defeated the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit 85-79 in a non-conference game Saturday evening inside the McDonough Center.
 
With the victory the Trojans improves to 4-2 overall while Wheeling Jesuit University men's basketball team drops to 0-5 overall.
 
Senior guard Cyonte Melvin led the team with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Jahmere Howze finished with 17 points, while junior Andrew Corum secured his first double-double added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Virginia State secured a lead in the first five minutes of the game, Wheeling Jesuit took its first lead at 13-12 following a Hoban trey with 14:17 left in the first half. The next six minutes saw both teams trade baskets, before a layup by sophomore Jeremiah Brooks reclaimed the lead for the Cardinals at 21-20 with 8:18 remaining until halftime.
 
Virginia State took control of the first half over the next seven minutes, out-scoring the Cardinals 23-to-13 to take a 43-34 lead with just over a minute left in the first half. WJU managed to cut into the deficit with a pair of baskets in the final 60 seconds, but entered halftime trailing 44-38.
 
The Trojans built their largest lead of the evening with a 19-8 run over the first nine minutes of the second half to establish a 63-46 lead with 10:28 to play in the game. 
 
Back-to-back buckets by senior Miguel Rodriguez and a three-pointer by Kamgain quickly drew the Cardinals back within single digits at 63-54 with just under nine minutes left, but Virginia State notched six-unanswered to rebuild its lead to 15 at the seven-minute mark.
 
Wheeling Jesuit hovered around an eight-point deficit for the next five minutes, before a layup-and-one by Kamgain helped pull the Cardinals within five, 79-74, with 1:13 left in the game. 
 
Following a Trojan basket, Kamgain drained a three with 42 seconds on the clock to inch to within four, 81-77. Wheeling Jesuit was only able to connect on one of its final four attempts in on the night, allowing Virginia State to close out the win.
 
The Trojans finished the evening shooting 30 of 62 (48.2 percent), and were 21 of 28 (75 percent) from the free-throw line.

Virginia State will return to action as they travel to Bristol, Tennessee to face the Tornadoes of King University on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.

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