Virginia State Upends Vikings, 69-54, To Run Win Streak To 13
John Stallings
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (Jan. 26, 2019) – League-leading Virginia State used a first-half spurt and icy shooting by Elizabeth City State to post a 69-54 CIAA win in the Robert L. Vaughan Center.
Senior guard Shyheid Petteway was the only Viking in double-digit scoring with 13 points as ECSU made just 19 of 63 (30.2%) shots from the field with just four treys in 22 tries (18.2%).
Junior center Tyjhai Byers had nine points and seven rebounds for ECSU while senior guard Corey Mendez netted eight points with team highs of nine rebounds and four assists as the Vikings (10-11, CIAA 6-4, North Div. 0-3) lost their third straight decision in CIAA North Division play. Junior forward John Maynor finished with eight points.
Senior guard Brandon Holley lead a balanced attack with 15 points as the Trojans (17-1, CIAA 9-0, North Div. 3-0) posted their 13
th straight victory. Senior forward Jahmere Howze tallied a dozen points while junior forward Andrew Corum chipped in eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Howze had four points to help fuel a decisive 16-2 run which put the Trojans in the driver's seat just before the half. A 3-point jumper by Holley pushed the Virginia State lead to 35-21 with just four ticks left before the break. A buzzer beating 3-pointer by Maynor set the ECSU halftime deficit at 11 points.
Junior center Joseph Allen knocked down a jumper with 8:18 left in the opening half to knot the score at 19-19 prior to the Trojan's run. There were four ties before Virginia State's spurt.
In the second half, the Vikings got no closer than eight points before the Trojans pulled away. A fastbreak layup by Holley following a steal and feed from freshman guard Antwan Miles gave Virginia State a 60-38 lead with 9:50 remaining.
It was Craig Sager Strong Cancer Awareness Day in the Vaughan Center.
The Vikings host Virginia Union in a CIAA doubleheader on Wednesday in the Vaughan Center. The men's game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the women's game following at 7:30.