Shaw vs. Virginia State: A Tense Final Quarter Seals the Win for Shaw
Ettrick, VA – The basketball game between Shaw and Virginia State turned into a dramatic, edge-of-your-seat finale, with Shaw emerging victorious in the final moments. After a nail-biting back-and-forth throughout the game, Shaw's resilience, strong free-throw shooting, and timely plays in the closing minutes led them to a 66-62 victory over Virginia State.
The game began with both teams coming out of the gate strong. Shaw initially struggled with missed layups and turnovers, but they quickly regained their footing. Elijah Scranton played a major role early on, scoring a tip-in followed by successful free throws to give Shaw an early 6-3 advantage.
Virginia State responded quickly, with
Jacob Cooper's fast-break layup and
Kendall Bynum following with a
three-pointer, briefly closing Virginia State's gap 11-10. However, Shaw responded with a relentless offense led by Scranton and Trent McIntyre, who combined for a series of successful layups and free throws. Scranton's ability to get to the line and convert was crucial, helping Shaw regain a slight advantage midway through the first half.
Virginia State began to find its rhythm as the game progressed, especially with
Cooper,
Bynum, and
Dajour Rucker contributing key plays. A fast-break three-pointer from
Rucker pushed Virginia State ahead 32-25 with just under two minutes left in the half, forcing Shaw to regroup.
Despite a few struggles with missed shots and turnovers, Shaw continued to fight, and McIntyre and Scranton kept the pressure on Virginia State's defense. However, Virginia State capitalized on Shaw's mistakes, extending their lead with timely baskets.
Rucker's fast-break layup in the first half's final minute put Virginia State up 34-25.
As the second half unfolded, the intensity of the game only grew. Shaw's offense began to click, with Scranton continuing to dominate inside, while McIntyre added several key points. Despite Shaw's efforts, Virginia State remained a formidable opponent, with
Bynum and
Cooper keeping their offense sharp. With just over a minute remaining in regulation,
Bynum's layup narrowed Shaw's lead to 60-59, and it looked like Virginia State might pull off a dramatic comeback.
However, Shaw's experience in tight games began to shine through in the final moments. Dee Barnes stepped up at the free-throw line, sinking crucial free throws to extend Shaw's lead to 63-59. Virginia State failed to capitalize on a quick attempt on the following possession, and Shaw's Jaylen Bandy made a key layup to push the lead to 65-62. Virginia State still had a chance, but
Bynum's last-second layup was not enough to overcome Shaw's defensive effort and free-throw execution. In the end, Shaw held on for a hard-fought 66-62 win.
This victory was a testament to Shaw's resilience and poise under pressure, especially in the final moments when the game was on the line. Despite a strong challenge from Virginia State, Shaw's timely free throws and defensive stands sealed the victory, securing the win in what was an intense and thrilling contest.
