Virginia Union University's Terrell Leach scored 34 points and Tyriek Railey added 22 as Virginia Union dominated the second half to score an 82-62 victory in the Freedom Classic on Saturday, January 18, in Petersburg, Va.

The Panthers shot 64% from the floor after halftime, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range. By contrast, the Trojans shot 26% from the floor in the final 20 minutes, including 1 of 12 from beyond the arc.

The win was the first for VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Butler in the VSU Multipurpose Center, and also broke a four-game streak which saw the Panthers lose four games by a combined total of five points.

"We've had a tough stretch where we've been on the road for about two weeks, and we've got a few more games left to go, but it's been rough," said Butler.  "I've been challenging the players, and they've been upset with me, but we stuck together and kept fighting.  I told them that the balls not been bouncing our way on the road, but you've just got to keep plugging away.  I told them that we've been playing 38 minutes, and we've got to start playing 40 minutes, and tonight we played 40 minutes."

Virginia Union also turned 14 Virginia State turnovers in 26 points.

The win raised VUU's record to 10-8 overall and 4-2 in the CIAA.  Virginia State fell to 12-6 overall and 6-1 in CIAA play.

Virginia Union now travels to Raleigh, N.C., to face Shaw University at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 20.