The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) men’s basketball team dropped the first game of their four-game homestand to Bleu Devils of Dillard University 67-59 on Thursday evening at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. In celebration of Cultural Night, fans in attendance were treated to the sights and sounds of the Rising Stars Steel Orchestra, the St. Thomas Majorettes, and the UVI Cultural Titans.
UVI (3-11, 1-7) raced out to a 5-0 score after the tip but Dillard was able to keep the pace as the two teams were locked in as they battled throughout the first half.
With under nine minutes remaining in the half, the Buccaneers trailed 23-16. They then went on a 9-2 run, fueled by sensational shooting. On three consecutive possessions, the Buccaneers made shots from behind the arc to tie the game at 25. Two of those three-point baskets were made by junior guard Jalil Langston and the other by senior guard William Steger. The Buccaneers took a 32-29 lead into the break.
UVI started off the second half sluggish as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 19-3 run. Junior guard Keylin Vance showed up when the Bucs needed him giving the team a spark off the bench in his season debut. Vance scored 11 straight points to bring the Buccaneers back within four, but that was as close as the team would get in their comeback attempt. Ultimately the visiting Bleu Devils were able to hold off the Bucs and secure the victory.
Langston led the way for the Buccaneers offensively with 17 points.
Maurice Smith, Jr. posted 13 points and 10 rebounds to record his sixth double-double of the season for UVI.
For Dillard, Tony White led the Bleu Devils with 18 points.
The Buccaneers continue their homestand as they host Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) on Saturday afternoon. The last matchup between the two was a 63-55 victory in favor of SUNO. Action tips-off at 6 p.m. AST. Local first responders will be recognized as UVI celebrates First Responders Night.
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.