Dunbar, W.V.- The men's basketball team kicked off their season with a 78-71 victory over West Virginia State at the Earl Lloyd Classic, Presented by Embassy Suites.
Leading the charge for the team were
Jamal Cannady Jr. and
King Ijeoma, who both finished in double figures.
Cannady was the team's top scorer, putting up 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Ijeoma was not far behind, adding 13 points while also pulling down a team-high 13 rebounds, showcasing his presence in the paint. His shooting was 5-of-15 from the field, and he also went 3-of-7 from the free-throw line.
The team's balanced attack also saw contributions from
James Nipper, who scored 9 points, and
Chance Jamison, who added 11 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting. The overall performance was a solid start to the season, with strong individual efforts helping the team secure the win.
While the team had some shooting struggles, going 31-of-79 (39%) from the field, they made up for it with tough defense, outrebounding West Virginia State 54-34 and showing resilience at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 21 attempts.
The Blue Bears will be back in action at 2 p.m., taking on Davis & Elkins College.
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