Maurice Smith, Jr. scored a season-high 27 points, but it was not enough as the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Buccaneers men’s basketball team fell 76-71 Rust College at the Kinzell Lawson Gym in Holly Springs, Mississippi on Thursday night. UVI falls to 3-9 on the season and 1-5 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC).
The game featured 14 ties and 14 lead changes to start and set the stage for what would be a nail-biter in the end. The battle was intense from the opening tip as both teams went basket for basket early in the game with neither team falling too far behind the other.
An evenly played period of basketball saw Rust up 34-32 right before halftime until senior guard William Steger hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the hash mark to send the teams into the locker room with UVI leading by one.
The Buccaneers got off to a slow start in the second half and the Bearcats were able to take advantage of it going on a 13-5 run. Senior Shirmoy O’Garro came off the bench and drilled a three-pointer to stop the run and initiate a comeback for the Buccaneers.
With nine minutes remaining in the half, a made free throw by Smith, Jr. tied the game at 55-all. The Bearcats pulled away from the Bucs shortly after, but Smith, Jr. answered again when his number was called, delivering one of his three made shots from behind the arc on the night to bring the Buccaneers within four. However, a free throw on the other end by Rust put the game away.
The graduate transfer student Smith, Jr. recorded 17 of his 27 points in the second half to keep the Buccaneers in the game while shooting an astounding 66% from the field. The 6-foot-7 forward added nine rebounds, two blocks, and a steal to his stat line as well.
Steger added 11 points and dished out seven assists for the Buccaneers.
As a team, the Buccaneers forced eight turnovers and held Rust to just 25% shooting from behind the arc.
For the Bearcats, Khalil Brown and Catthadious Moore both had 16 points.
The Buccaneers close out their road trip in Mississippi as they take on Tougaloo College on Saturday, January 13 in another GCAC conference game. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CST. This matchup can be viewed on Channel 120 of the HBCU+ app.
About UVI Athletics
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and, as of July 1, 2023, competes in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Entering the 2023-24 season, the Buccaneers will begin their 17th season of athletic competition. As the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the Caribbean, UVI currently sponsors six sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. For more information on UVI Athletics, visit UVIAthletics.com.