Baltimore, Md (Feb. 29, 2024)- The Virginia State University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to the Claflin University Panthers 75-69 in the quarterfinal round of the CIAA tournament.
In the first five minutes of the game Claflin doubled Virginia State 10-5, with VSU getting a three from Jonathan Norfleet and a tough lay up from Tremere Brown. The Panthers would continue to grow their advantage being up by 10 points 19-9 with 9:28 left in the half. The Trojans struggled early from the field, only having four field goals and one three-point field goal in 11 and five attempts respectfully. However, the Trojans began to heat up scoring 11 of the next 15 points cutting the deficit to 23-20 with just over five minutes left in the first half. The teams would trade baskets back and forth eventually ending the first 20 minutes with Claflin up 34-28.
In the first four minutes of the second period, Claflin increased their lead back to double figures at 11 points, 42-31. At the 11:40 mark the Trojans made it a single digit game again after a Chris Hamton three pointer made it 47-38 and then another three by Jared Clawson made it 49-41 with 11:01 remaining. The Trojans managed to always make it a nine- or eight-point game but couldn't seem to break through that barrier as with a pair of foul shots by Claflin made it 56-45 with just under eight minutes on the clock. The Trojans then implemented a press that bothered the Panthers over the next four minutes making the score 63-58 with Imhotep George and Kendall Bynum both scoring four points. Bynum hit some clutch foul shots to make it a four-point game, 66-62 with 2:30 left. Chris Hampton made the first foul shot but missed the second. The Trojans then caused a turnover and had a huge layup made by Bynum to make it a one possession game, 70-67 with 55 seconds left. However, the Panthers made their foul shots to secure a spot in the semifinals tomorrow with a final score of 75-69.
Bynum had a team high of 19 points while Jonothan Norfleet added 11. The Trojans end the season at 15-15.
