Box Score Men's basketball season got off to an adrenaline pumping, nail-biting start Friday night in the Walker Convocation Center.

Day one of the Earl Lloyd Classic featured a pair of games that went down to the final horn before an outcome was decided.

When the dust had settled West Virginia State had dropped a physical, gut-wrenching 86-83 decision to Virginia Union and the University of Virginia at Wise had beaten Virginia Union 100-97.

The Yellow Jackets played in the evening's second game against a Panther's squad predicted to compete for the CIAA title this season.

After trailing 38-36 at halftime and by as many as seven points midway through the second half WVSU fought back to take a lead with about seven minutes to play. The Jackets stretched their advantage out to five points but the visitors started hitting 3-pointers down the stretch to pull even at 83-83.

WVSU brought the ball down with 27 seconds to play and looked for the last shot.

Sophomore point guard Brent Bauer found an opening and dribbled into the lane from the left side of the arch to the right side of the baseline but had his shot blocked out of bounds.

The officials ruled that the ball hit off of a WVSU player after being blocked and Virginia Union was awarded the ball on the baseline with 4.5 seconds remaining.

The Panthers managed to squeeze the ball in against heavy Yellow Jacket pressure and 6-foot-5 James Paige dribbled into the frontcourt and pulled up from about 35-feet  on the left side and fired up a shot with a pair of defenders on him that found the bottom of the net just as the horn sounded.

"I am extremely proud of our guys' effort and play tonight," WVSU Head Coach Bryan Poore said. "They beat us with a prayer from half court."

Virginia Union hit 6-of-8 from 3-point range in the second half. Both teams shot well in the fast paced contest as each hit an identical 50 percent from the floor. The Yellow
Jackets made a strong 50 percent from 3-point range on the night but the Panthers countered by hitting 10-of-18, 55.6 percent.

"I love our guys' heart," Poore said. "The big challenge is if we can come back (Saturday) with the emotion and intensity we played with tonight.

Bauer had 25 points and seven assists to pace WVSU while Earnest Jenkins added 16 points.

The Yellow Jackets face Elizabeth City State at 4 p.m. Saturday.

In the opener the Vikings erased a nine-point deficit with less than four minutes to play to force overtime against the University of Virginia at Wise.

The Cavaliers jumped out to a quick lead in the extra period and held off Elizabeth City in the closing seconds as a final Viking 3-point attempt rolled off the rim at the horn.

UVa-Wise faces Virginia Union in Saturday's first game at 2 p.m.