The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Buccaneer men’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 66-61 loss to the Bleu Devils of Dillard University in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) 2024 Hope Credit Union Men’s and Women's Basketball Championship at Birthright Alumni Hall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Wednesday night. The loss in the first round of this single-elimination tournament abruptly ended the season for the Buccaneers.
UVI raced out ahead of Dillard, getting off to a 10-4 start. However, that was short-lived
as Dillard would soon tie the game at 12-all. At this point of the game, the Buccaneers
went cold as the team struggled to put points on the board, allowing the Bleu Devils
to eventually take a 22-14 lead as they took control of the game. The Buccaneers’
largest deficit of the game came with 1:25 remaining in the first half when they fell
behind by 13 (32-19). At halftime, the Buccaneers trailed 32-21.
In the second half, the Bleu Devils would make several attempts to pull away from
the Buccaneers, but UVI would chip away at the lead at every opportunity. After going
on a 12-5 run late in the game, the Buccaneers battled back to get within three points
with just under three minutes remaining in the game. The two teams battled down the
stretch trading baskets, as the Buccaneers attempted to stay within striking distance.
It was a missed field goal and a conversion on the other end of the floor with under
a minute remaining for The Bleu Devils that would put the game out of reach, giving
them the victory. The Buccaneers fell just short as they came charging back from down
13 in hopes of keeping their championship dreams alive.
Graduate forward Maurice Smith, Jr. closed the curtain on his college career with another spectacular performance on both ends of the floor. Smith, Jr. secured his eighth double-double of the season as he recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. The 6-7 forward’s 17 points led all scorers. On the defensive end of the court, the two-way player had five steals and two blocks in his final collegiate game.
Senior guards Naythan Shaw Clarke (14 points) and Wiliam Steger (10 points), along with junior guard Jalil Langston (11 points) were the three other Buccaneers to score in double digits. Steger led the team in assists with five, while Shaw-Clarke added seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals for his team.
For the Bleu Devils, Tory Cargo and Armond Williams scored 13 points each.
The Buccaneers finished the season with an overall record of 8-15 and a 6-10 conference record in their first year in the GCAC.
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.