Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge Opens Hoops Season - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

      The 2018-19 basketball season tips off tonight with West Virginia State hosting the Earl Lloyd Classic Conference Challenge.

      WVSU and the University of Virginia at Wise from the Mountain East Conference will play Elizabeth City State and Livingstone out of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the Walker Convocation Center Friday and Saturday.

      Livingstone and UVa-Wise tip off at 5:30 p.m., Friday followed by the Yellow Jackets taking on Elizabeth City State at 7:30.

      The teams flip opponents for Saturday with UVa-Wise and Elizabeth City State facing off at 2:00 p.m. followed by WVSU playing Livingstone at 4:00.

     The event is named for former Yellow Jacket great Earl Lloyd who led WVSU to an undefeated season, was the first black player to see action in an NBA game, and later was elected to the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

    "Its always a pleasure to honor a dear friend and trailblazing legend like Earl Lloyd," WVSU Head Coach Bryan Poore said. "The classic has become a staple of our schedule and we hope to continue it for years to come."

      The Yellow Jackets return four of their top five leading scorers from last season's 13-16 squad.

     Leading the way is senior forward Pat Johnson-Agwu. The 6-foot-5 Maryland native was a first team All-MEC pick least year after averaging 19.8 points and 7.4 rebounds. He led the league in shooting percentage at .597.

    Also back is 6-2 junior guard Ernest Jenkins who averaged 11.8 points and led the team with 62 3-pointers.

    Joining them is 6-6 forward Jerry Moore who averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds while starting 14 games.

     Glen Abram, a 6-1 guard, also returns and averaged 8.1 points. Isaiah Noel, another 6-1 guard, started 21 games last season and averaged 7 points and 3.5 rebounds.

     Here is a quick look at the Yellow Jackets' opponents this weekend.

     * Elizabeth City State (12-15 last season) -- the Vikings have a new coach that they are very familiar with as former coach Shawn Wheeler returns to the helm after a short stint at Grambling State. He will build around All-CIAA selection Zaccheus Hobbs, a 6-foot sophomore guard, who averaged 13.2 points and 3.5 assist last season.
     ECSU also return 6-2 guard Shyheid Petteway, 12.4 points, and 6-5 junior forward John Maynor, 10.9 points.
     WVSU won last year's meeting 69-61.

    * Livingstone (12-13) -- Junior guard Roger Ray leads the Blue Bears after averaging 16.3 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Ray was named to the CIAA pre-season All-CIAA first team.
    Sophomore Lydell Elmore, a 6-9 sophomore forward, led the squad in rebounding with 4.2 per game while averaging 6.2 points.

    If you cannot make it to the gym follow the action here:

    Friday
   5:30 -- UVa-Wise vs. Livingstone click here for Live Stats     UVa-Wise 104, Livingstone 82
   7:30 -- WVSU vs. Elizabeth City State click here for Live Stats   Listen here live   WVSU 89, ECSU 82

    Saturday
    2:00 -- UVa-Wise vs. Elizabeth City State click here for Live Stats   ECSU 80, UVa-Wise 60
    4:00 -- WVSU vs. Livingstone click here for Live Stats   Livingston 83, WVSU 81

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