RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Union University men's basketball team delivered a dominant performance at Barco-Stevens Hall on Friday evening, earning an 88–36 victory over Johnson C. Smith University to close out the first semester of the 2025–26 season. With the win, the Panthers improved to 11-1 overall and 2-0 in CIAA play, while the Golden Bulls fell to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action.

Virginia Union set the tone early, racing out to a 44–14 halftime lead behind suffocating defense and efficient scoring on the offensive end. The Panthers maintained their intensity in the second half, matching their first-half output to secure the lopsided victory.

The Panthers received balanced contributions throughout the lineup, with multiple players scoring in double figures. Virginia Union's depth proved to be a major factor, as the bench provided consistent energy and production on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, VUU limited Johnson C. Smith to just 36 total points, forcing difficult shots and controlling the tempo for the full 40 minutes. The Panthers also dominated the glass, creating second-chance opportunities and limiting the Golden Bulls to one shot per possession.

"This was a real good win to take us into the Christmas break," said VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Butler. "I thought the guys were locked in from the start of the game and we finished the first semester the way we started the season — playing great defense. I'm looking forward to the holidays, but I'm excited about the team continuing to get better the second half of the season."

Virginia Union will return to action following the holiday break on January 3, when the Panthers host St. Thomas Aquinas at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.