Virginia Union concluded day one of the CIAA Tournament with an impressive 71-45 victory over Shaw University. The Panthers set the tone early, holding the Bears to just one point in the first eight minutes of play. Despite Shaw's determined effort to battle back, the deficit proved too great to overcome.
Virginia Union will face Fayetteville State University on day two of the tournament, tomorrow night, in an 8:50 p.m. matchup at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD.

Key Performers:

• Leading Scorer: Keysean Faulkner-Smith – 19 points, tied school record with 7 blocks
• Bobby Gardner: 15 points, 6 steals
• Leading Rebounder: Jonathan King – 7 rebounds

Head Coach Jay Butler's Comments:
"I tip my hat to Shaw University. Coach Bobby Collins has done a great job with that team. They're scrappy and always fight until the end. We knew we had a strong lead, but Shaw wasn't going to back down. Our guys came out locked in defensively. I always emphasize to them that we defend at a high level, and when we do, we're tough to beat. Bobby Gardner had six steals, and Keysean Faulkner-Smith recorded seven blocks—excellent defense from those two today."

Next Game:
Virginia Union will face Fayetteville State University at 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.