Pembroke, N.C. (Nov. 26, 2023)- The Virginia State University men's basketball team won against old conference foe Chowan University 73-71 in day two of the Give Thanks Tournament. 

In the first four minutes Kamryn Edwards and Chris Hampton both hit three pointers as that was the beginning of a 14-4 run over the first eight and a half minutes of the game for the Trojans. Five different players scored in the opening run. Chowan would cut the deficit to four points at the nine-minute mark with a three-point play making the score 16-12.  

Over the next seven minutes VSU would grow their lead to as high as 15 points, 35-20, with a Tremere brown layup. Chowan would not give up so easily as they would score nine of the final 13 points of the first half making the score 39-29 with 20 minutes left. 

In the first five minutes of the final half VSU would hold on to a double-digit lead at 50-40 until the Braves scored four quick points to cut the lead to single digits. CU would score seven points after VSU's Tyreek Williams and Brown got the lead back to 10 points making the score 54-51. Then with just seven minutes and 25 seconds remaining Chowan tied the game at 56 all.  

The final seven minutes of the game Kendall Bynum took over the game as he would score 13 of the last 17 points for Virginia State, including the two foul shots at the sixteen seconds left to have VSU up by three points, 73-70. Chowan would miss the three pointer to tie but did get the rebound where Chris Hampton would foul the rebounder to send him to the line for two shots. The braves player would hit the first one and miss the second on purpose and get the rebound, but Chowan would miss the tying layup. 

Bynum had a team high of 18 points and four other VSU players had 10 points each. Bynum also finished just one assists shy of a double-double. With the win Virginia State is now 2-3 and Chowan moves to 2-3. VSU returns home for its first conference game against Fayetteville State on Thursday November 30 at 6 pm.