Virginia Union University's Kennard Wyche scored a team-high 28 points, but Claflin University defeated the Panthers 79-76 on Thursday, December 5, at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.

Wyche, a 5-9 shooting guard from Richmond's Varina High School, earned First Team All-Metro in 2023, was the 2022-2023 VHSL Class 4 Player of the Year, 2022-2023 VHSL Class 4 1st Team All-State, and 2022-2023 VHSL Region 4B Player of the Year honors.  He was a two-time Virginia High School League Class 4 Player of the Year and Virginia's only McDonald's All-American nominee from a public school.

VUU's Malachi Dark added 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the game.

"I thought both teams played a hard-fought game, but Claflin made one more play down the stretch to get the win," said VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Butler.  "We wanted to improve from the free throw line and rebounding tonight. We shot 71 percent from the free throw line and won the war on the boards 32-29.  I thought Kennard and Malachi played a fantastic game tonight.  We've got to get a few more players to step up and make some plays to pull out these close games."

VUU will now travel to Fayetteville, N.C., to face Fayetteville State University at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, December 7.