The Winston-Salem State University Rams defeated the Virginia Union University Panthers 64-47 on Saturday to win the third annual NBA HBCU Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Both teams came out strong on defense, with a total of six points scored over the first five-minute stretch. Winston-Salem broke away with a 10-0 run near the end of the first half and went into the break with a 33-24 advantage.
The Panthers trimmed their deficit to single digits early in the second half, but the Rams quickly regained control for the remainder of the matchup, taking their largest lead of the game (23 points) with 2:21 to go.
Winston-Salem’s Ketron Shaw led all scorers with 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting. Tahj Harding led the way for the Panthers with 11 points. After the victory, Rams senior guard Jaylen Alston expressed his gratitude to play on the national stage.
“It’s awesome, being able to come out here outside all these people,” said Alston. “We don’t see that many big crowds. A crowd like this is amazing to have.”
Several HBCU alumni attended Saturday’s contest including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and NBA legend Ben Wallace. Smith played for the legendary Clarence “Big House” Gaines at Winston-Salem and spent time with John McClendon, the Hall of Fame coach who helped pioneer fast-break basketball.
“It makes you feel like you’re not alone,” Smith said of attending an HBCU. “But there’s also an elevated level of accountability.”
To tip off this year’s event, Grammy Award-winning artist Coco Jones sang “Lift Every Voice And Sing” and the National Anthem. Later on, the cheerleading squads for both teams (WSSU Powerhouse and the VUU Rah-Rahs) entertained the crowd with their joint performance at halftime, which also featured Virginia Union’s infamous Ambassadors of Sound Marching Band.
Additionally, the NBA helped to curate an HBCU student showcase, which features student artists from historically Black colleges and universities.
Previous NBA x HBCU Showcase results
The event, presented by AT&T, is part of the NBA’s ongoing commitment to advancing educational, professional and economic opportunities in partnership with HBCU institutions as well as increasing support and awareness for HBCU athletics.
