The Virginia Union University men's basketball team is one win away from claiming the title of the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship (BCIC) after defeating Johnson C. Smith University 76-63 on Thursday, March 20, in Charlotte, N.C. With the victory, the Panthers will move on to the championship game, where they'll face Claflin University on Saturday, March 22, at 3:00 p.m.

In Thursday's contest, the Panthers were led by standout performances from Malachi Dark, who finished with a team-high 21 points, followed by DJ Mitchell with 13 points, Noah Richardson-Keyes with 11 points, and Travis Vaughn with 10 points. Jonathan King played a key role on the boards, securing a team-high 7 rebounds.

Head Coach Jay Butler expressed his pride in the team's performance and emphasized the significance of their achievement. "Anytime you can get a chance to play basketball in March it's always an exciting time, and today I was very proud of these young men for taking advantage of the opportunity to play in the first Black College Invitational Championship," said Butler. "It was definitely a total team effort on the defensive end. I also thought Malachi Dark was fantastic in the post today. He really established himself on both ends of the floor."

The Panthers' strong team effort and defensive play were pivotal in securing the win, setting them up for what promises to be an exciting championship game against Claflin University.

Next Game:

• Opponent: Claflin University
• Date: Saturday, March 22
• Time: 3:00 p.m.
• Location: Charlotte, N.C.

With a championship title within reach, all eyes will be on Virginia Union University as they aim to make history in the BCIC final.