Raleigh, N.C. (Dec. 2, 2023)- The Virginia State university men's basketball team traveled down to St. Augustine's and won 77-73 in its first overtime game of the season. Jared Clawson scored nine straight points in the overtime period to help VSU prevail.
The Trojans were the first team to make it to double figures after Tremere Brown converted a tough layup to make the score 10-6 at the 13:49 mark in the first half. Neither team could establish themselves on the offensive end as with just over nine minutes remaining a three pointer from Clawson was answered by a tough SAU pull up jumper to make the score 19-16. The Falcons would hit a pair of foul shots at the 7:41 mark to end the scoring drought in the game to make it a one-point game, 19-18. Then a layup would give SAU a 22-21 lead at six-and-a-half-minute mark, it was their first lead since it was 4-3 early in the game.
A foul shot from Imhotep George ended the four-minute scoring drought for Virginia State, but VSU still trailed 24-22 with just under four minutes remaining in the opening half. A dunk from Brown at the 1:44 mark would be the first field goal for the Trojans since Tyreek Williams hit a lay-up at the 7:20 mark, but the halftime score favored the Falcons 39-30 as they hit a buzzer beater three pointer. SAU ended the final 7:20 of the half outscoring the Trojans by 10 points (19-9).
Four minutes into the second half SAU was able to get their largest lead up to that point at 13, points 49-36 as they connected on a right wing three pointer forcing a VSU timeout. Over the next three minutes Virginia State scored the next seven points to make it just a one possession game at 49-46 with 12 minutes remaining in the game. With under 10 minutes to go Rafeal Jenkins hit a layup to get VSU within two points, 53-51 then one minute later Izeah Parker tied the game with his own layup.
The Trojans would get their first lead of the second half, 58-57, after a Brown layup with 4:20 left in the game. With two minutes and 30 seconds left both teams would see themselves in a 60 all game before SAU hit a three which was quickly answered by a Kendall Bynum layup. SAU hit one foul shot to obtain a two-point advantage at 64-62 with a minute. George had a shot to tie the game with a layup but was sent to the foul line instead, where he hit both for a 64-64 tie with just four seconds left in regulation. SAU missed the potential winning three pointer just to the right as the teams got ready for overtime.
Kendall Bynum got the Trojans the first points in extra basketball with a driving layup. However over the next minute SAU would score a quick seven points to give the Falcons a 71-69 lead. Clawson would hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers for VSU for a 77-73 score with just 50 seconds left.
Clawson had a team high of 17 points with Brown close behind with 15 points. With the win VSU improves to 3-4 while SAU drops to 3-4 . The team stays on the road for a non-conference matchup against conference foe Fayetteville State on Saturday Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.
