NEW YORK— The battle of the Virginia HBCUs has been decided. Damion Harris scored 17 points, Wesley Simmons scored 13 points and pulled down a team high 9 rebounds as the Virginia Union University Panthers defeated the Virginia State University Trojans 67-54 at the Big Apple Classic in the historic Madison Square Garden.
The two CIAA rivals have been battling for HBCU supremacy since the conference was formed in 1912, and both teams put on an amazing performance in front of the live crowd in New York City.
Another battle that always sparks the audience attention is the one on the sidelines. The Virginia State Woo-Woos and the Virginia Union Rah Rahs are keeping the crowd hype and supporting their respective HBCUs with their high energy, loud chants and high stepping.
Virginia State University was led by Khalil Tate with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Kenny Mitchell followed up with a double double, notching 13 points and a game high 10 rebounds. Ibn-Shaeed Rassoul scored 12 points.
The Big Apple Classic served as the CIAA opener for both squads. Virginia Union improves to 5-3 on the season and now will play West Virginia Wesleyan College on Tuesday, December 6 in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Virginia State falls to 1-7 on the season and will go on to play Concord University on Athens, West Virginia.
Virginia Union Hangs On To Defeat CIAA Rival Virginia State 67-54
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