Belmont, NC- In an exciting basketball matchup, Virginia State secured a 64-56 victory over Belmont Abbey, showing resilience in the second half after a close first-half battle. Both teams struggled with consistency in their shooting, but Virginia State's strong finish and dominant inside play helped them come out on top.

 

The game saw a tight first half, where Virginia State shot just 35.7% from the field and only 22.2% from beyond the arc. Despite these struggles, they managed to take a slight lead into the break, 22-18. Belmont Abbey, on the other hand, also struggled, with only a 31.8% field goal percentage and 18.2% from three. However, Belmont Abbey managed to keep the game close due to their solid free-throw shooting, converting 71.4% of their attempts.

The second half was a different story for Virginia State. They came out firing, improving their field goal percentage to 60.9%, and hitting 50% of their three-point attempts. Their dominance in the paint, where they scored 36 points, and their ability to convert on fast breaks (14 points) helped them pull away in the final minutes of the game. Virginia State also had a noticeable edge in second-chance points, racking up 16 points off rebounds.

Jaedan Jefferson played a pivotal role in Virginia State's success, scoring 13 points and providing key leadership on both ends of the court. Jefferson was efficient with 4-9 shooting, contributing 5 rebounds and 6 assists while showcasing his defensive prowess with 6 steals. His all-around performance was crucial to the team's victory.

Tim Uzochuwku also stepped up in a big way, recording 11 points and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. His shooting was nearly flawless, hitting 5 of his 6 attempts from the field, and he added a 3-pointer to his tally. Uzochuwku's ability to contribute on both ends helped to stabilize Virginia State's offense throughout the game.

Struggles for Belmont Abbey

Belmont Abbey's shooting woes persisted throughout the game. They managed just 38.8% from the field and 23.8% from three-point range. Despite these shooting difficulties, the team fought hard, with Daniel Lubamba leading the charge. Lubamba scored a team-high 13 points, hitting 3-5 from the field and converting 6-7 free throws. His performance, especially in the second half, was one of the bright spots for Belmont Abbey.

Jared White also contributed significantly, scoring 11 points in just 20 minutes of play, including 5-7 shooting from the field. However, Belmont Abbey's shooting inconsistency from beyond the arc (1-8 from Coleman, 0-2 from Lassiter) proved a significant hurdle they could not overcome.

Defensively, Virginia State made life difficult for Belmont Abbey by forcing turnovers and creating opportunities in transition. They had a total of 10 steals, which helped them to score 13 points off turnovers. Additionally, they could hold Belmont Abbey to just 14 points in the paint, a statistic that underlined their dominance inside.

Virginia State's strong second-half performance, fueled by improved shooting and tenacious defense, led them to a well-earned 64-56 victory over Belmont Abbey. While Belmont Abbey showed grit and made key plays, especially from Lubamba and White, they were ultimately undone by poor shooting and Virginia State's ability to capitalize on opportunities.

Virginia State will look to build on this performance as they continue their season, while Belmont Abbey will need to find more consistency on offense if they are to bounce back in their next game.