Erie, Pa. — The #7 seed
Virginia Union University men's basketball team earned a historic postseason victory on Saturday with a
52–46 win over #2 seed West Liberty University in the opening round of the
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament Atlantic Region on Saturday, March 14, in Erie, Pa.
The Panthers relied on their trademark defense to slow down one of the nation's most potent offenses. The victory marks
Virginia Union's first NCAA Tournament win since 2023, a milestone moment for the program as the Panthers continue their postseason run.
Final Score
Virginia Union 52, West Liberty 46
Leading Scorers – Virginia Union
Leading Rebounders – Virginia Union
VUU Head Men's Basketball Coach
Jay Butler praised both his team's defensive effort and their opponent after the game.
"Hats off to West Liberty," said Butler. "You can really see why they're an NCAA Tournament team every year. They're a very talented team and we have to put six or seven guys out there when we practice to simulate the pressure that they bring. I told the guys that we've been #1 in defense all year and now it was time to show the world how good we are defensively."
With the victory, Virginia Union advances to the next round of the Atlantic Region and will face
#6 Indiana University of Pennsylvania at
5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, in Erie, Pa.
