Virginia Union University's Che Evans scored 14 points, but Shepherd University defeated the Panthers 61-51 on Friday, December 13, at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.

VUU's Keysean Faulkner-Smith led the Panthers on the boards with five rebounds.

"We must continue to find ways to pull these games out," said VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Butler.  "We talk everyday about next man up when we have several key guys out for the year.  We are playing in spurts. but to win at a high level we must play for 40 minutes.  Shepherd was consistent for 40 minutes this evening.  Che Evans and Keysean Faulkner-Smith made some good plays to keep us in the game, but we must continue to get better at rebounding the basketball and attacking the basket to get to the free throw line a lot more."

Virginia Union will now travel to Salisbury, N.C., to face Livingstone College at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, December 16.