Bluefield, WV – Both Women's and Men's basketball fell to Elizabeth City State on Senior Day. WBB fell 69-65 moving to 14-12 (8-9 CIAA) and MBB fell 89-77 moving to 7-21 (4-13 CIAA).

The Vikings built a seven-point lead with three minutes left in the first quarter, but a jumper from Gabrielle Thomas sparked a six-point run to pull within one going into the second. The Big Blue took their first lead of the night after a three from Thomas. With 2:29 left in the second, a layup from Azariah Binford extended the Big Blue to six. The Vikings pulled within one, but a free throw from Katrina Davis took the Big Blue into the half with the two-point lead.

With four minutes left in the third, a three from Sincere Roberts extended the Big Blue lead to nine. The Vikings outscored the Big Blue to close out the third 9-3 to cut the Big Blue lead to three going into the final quarter. The Big Blue built a lead of five, but the Vikings battled back to even the score at 61 with three minutes left to play. After the Vikings took the one-point lead, Alexyss Newman sunk the top of the key three to put the Big Blue ahead with just under two minutes left to play. The Vikings closed out play scoring the last six points to take the 69-65 victory over the Big Blue.

Newman led the Big Blue with 20 points with Binford and Thomas both coming away with 11 each.

On the men's side, a three-point play from Travon Cooper gave the Big Blue the one-point lead five minutes into play. After a back-and-forth battle, the Big Blue built a five-point lead after a three from Jaylen Bernard and a layup from Ja'Mere Redus. The Vikings answered with the next 13 points to take the 31-23 lead. The Big Blue battled back to pull within two after a free throw from Nduka Ogwu, but a three from the Vikings with nine seconds left in the first to take the 40-35 lead into the half.

A trip to the line for J. Caleb Slawinski cut the Vikings lead to two five minutes into the second half. Midway through the half, a three from Chase Page pulled the Big Blue within four but the Vikings answered with the next nine points to extend their lead to 13. The Vikings would have their largest lead of the night with 1:33 remaining at 19. The Big Blue would score the final seven points of the night, but could not overcome the Vikings, 89-77.

Cooper led all players with a season high of 33 points and ten rebounds. Redus added 12 points and three rebounds.

Up Next

Both teams will head to the CIAA Tournament in Baltimore, Maryland.