University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) junior guard Jalen Monroe drilled a jumper at the buzzer in the overtime to seal an 85-82 victory over Champion Christian College on Wednesday evening at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center.
The two teams battled in a hard-fought matchup that included 13 ties and 18 lead changes.
The Buccaneers entered halftime with a very slim 37-36 lead and at the end of regulation, the game was tied at 73.
UVI was able to outscore their opponents in the extra period 12 to 9 to secure the win. The game was knotted up once at 82 after two made free throws by Champion Christian with 14 seconds remaining on the clock. On the ensuing possession, Monroe rose up over a defender and delivered the three pointer as time expired which was the difference in the ball game.
The battle was won on the perimeter when the Buccaneers were able to hold the Tigers to 2-for-9 shooting in the first half and 0-for-4 in the second half bringing them to just 21.4% for the game. The Buccaneers shot 31.8% from behind the arc.
Monroe had a well-rounded performance as he recorded 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists while posting three steals and one block in the defensive categories.
Jalil Langston, Maurice Smith, Jr. and Naythan Shaw-Clarke all joined Monroe as players who scored in double figures.
Langston got off to a slow start with just five points in the first half but was able to turn it around as he scored 18 of his 21 points after the break.
Smith, Jr. recorded a double-double in his second consecutive game with 13 points and 11 rebounds with eight of those points coming from the free throw line as he shot a respectable 8-for-10.
Shaw-Clarke had 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
The Buccaneer men’s team will complete the final game of this homestand on Friday, December 1 at 8 p.m. in a rematch with Champion Christian.
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.