BALTIMORE, Md. – The Virginia Union University men's basketball team saw its hopes of a CIAA Tournament Championship shattered as the Panthers lost to Johnson C. Smith 64-63 in the CIAA Tournament quarterfinals.
Johnson C. Smith controlled the tempo early and played with urgency throughout, limiting Virginia Union's offensive rhythm and capitalizing on key opportunities on both ends of the floor.
Virginia Union Leading Scorers
"Johnson C. Smith played a great game," said VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach
Jay Butler. "Those guys came out from the start with a sense of urgency. Come tournament time you have to come with your 'A' game. We probably played a 'C-' or a 'D' game. Anytime you win 24 games, you're in the Top 20, and the Top 5 in the region, you've got a target on your back, and you've got to bring it."
Virginia Union finishes the regular season with a 24-5 overall record. The Panthers will now await word on a potential at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
