ORANGEBURG, S.C. — January 12, 2026 - The Virginia Union University men's basketball team (14–2) pulled out a dramatic 66–64 road victory over Claflin University on Monday night inside Tullis Arena, as Travis Vaughn knocked down three clutch free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to secure the win.

Virginia Union battled throughout a tightly contested CIAA matchup that featured multiple lead changes and momentum swings. The Panthers stayed composed down the stretch, executing when it mattered most to come away with the two-point victory.

Offensively, VUU was led by Bobby Gardner and Noah Richardson-Keyes, who each finished with 16 points. Vaughn contributed 10 points, highlighted by the game-winning free throws in the final second.

"I was very proud of the way our guys fought the entire game," said VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Butler. "I thought we were solid defensively the entire game, but you have to give credit to Claflin; they really shot the ball well in the second half. I challenged the guys at halftime to step up and make plays offensively. Our guards did a great job late in the game hitting some big shots, including the free throws from TJ to seal the win."

The Panthers showed resilience after halftime, outscoring Claflin in the second half and making key plays on both ends of the floor to close out the contest.

Next Up:
Virginia Union returns to action on January 14, when the Panthers travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face Johnson C. Smith University.