ETTRICK, Va. (November 8, 2018) – Under the leadership of Lonnie Blow Jr. in his sixth 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. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10.
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 is coming off the best season in school history with a 26-5 overall record. The Trojans were ranked the number one team in the Atlantic Region, and hosted the 2018 NCAA Atlantic Region Men's Basketball tournament, where they advanced to the Regional Semi-Finals. During the past season at one point the Trojans were 17-1 and ranked eighth in the nation.
This year's 2018-2019 program returns nine players including starters Cyonte Melvin (6-3/Guard/Hampton, Va.) and Walter Williams (6-4/Guard/Richmond, Va.), who have started and played significant minutes since they were freshmen. VSU also returns sharp-shooter Brandon Holley (6-2/Guard/Richmond, Va.), who was injured a large part of the season, junior Andrew Corum (6-7/Forward/Leesburg, Va.), sophomore William Vedder (6-9/Forward/Washington. DC), who came up huge for us in some big games as freshman. Senior Philip Owens (5-11/Combo Guard/Virginia Beach, Va.), sophomore Lual Rahama (6-5/Forward/Khartoum, Sudan), sophomore James Smith (6-1/Guard/South Boston, Va.) will all be key players. The Trojans also return two players who sat out the past year senior Jalen Jackson (6-2/Combo Guard/Cleveland, OH) and senior Tony Richardson (6-9/Center/Sterling, Va.).
We also have an outstanding recruiting class coming in the 2018-19 season that includes Kevin Holmes (6-9/Forward/Virginia Beach, Va.) a transfer from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Azariah Sykes (6-8/Forward/Richmond, Va.) a transfer from Morgan State University, Cedric Wiggins (6-0/Guard/Richmond, Va.) a transfer from North Carolina Central, and Armond Griebe (6-7/Forward/Woodbridge, Va.) a transfer from the University of Mount Olive. Also added to the roster is freshman Dallas Wilson (6-7/Forward/Portsmouth, Va.) and All-State, 3A Player of the Year (Antwan Miles (6-0/guard/Hampton, Va.) who has a chance of having a tremendous career here at Virginia State University.
Virginia State was recently picked to finish 1st overall in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference.
Pitt-Johnstown, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opens the 2018-19 slate coming off a 27-4 overall record in last season's campaign. The Mountain Cats were predicted to finish sixth spot in the PSAC Wester Division, returning two starters and six lettermen from last year's team that made its fourth consecutive in the PSAC Tournament. Back in the starting are junior guard Josh Wise (15.0 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) and senior guard Olando King, Jr. (4.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg.). With six freshman, five of whom are former Pennsylvania or Ohio All-State selections, the 2018-19 version of the Mountain Cats will the the youngest in the 30-year tenure of Coach Rukavina. Pitt-Johnstown must also replace three seniors in All-PSAC West selections Isaac Vescovi and Dale Clancy and staring forward Levi Masua.
Friday's clash will mark the second consecutive time that both Virginia State and Pitt-Johnstown will meet with the score last season in favor of the Trojans 79-75.
Host IUP is coming off a 22-8 overall record last year. The Crimson Hawks were predicted to finish first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. The Crimson Hawks return three starters from last year. IUP boasts the PSAC preseason player of the year and a preseason first-team All-American selection in senior forward Jacobo Diaz. Diaz led IUP in field goal percentage (52.0), rebounds (9.7 RPG) and minutes (34.4 MPG), as well finished second on the team in scoring averaging 14.8 points per game last season. Along with Diaz, IUP returns starting senior guard Dante Lombardi who is a career 1,000-point scorer and three-time PSAC honoree, and ranks sixth in school history with 397 assists.
Virginia State and IUP last met was on November 11, 2017 with the Trojans taking a 69-64 victory.
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.
