INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State University overcame a sluggish first half to claim a commanding 84-69 win over Johnson C. Smith in the final game of the 2024 Earl Lloyd Classic, presented by Embassy Suites of Charleston. Trailing by six at halftime, the Yellow Jackets erupted for 55 points in the second half behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense. The victory improves the Yellow Jackets to 1-1 on the season, while the Golden Bulls drop to 0-2 as both teams continue their early non-conference slate.

Miguel Martinez led all scorers with a stellar 32-point performance for WVSU, knocking down eight three-pointers and adding three rebounds. Bunky Brown contributed across the board with eight rebounds, six points, and four assists, while Jacob Rice provided a spark off the bench with seven points and a block. Johnson C. Smith was paced by Ashton Sherrell, who tallied 21 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, and Asa White, who added 16 points and five boards.

West Virginia State completed a remarkable turnaround with a stellar second-half performance, scoring 55 points on 64.3% shooting (18-of-28) from the field, including a scorching 61.5% from three-point range (8-of-13). The Yellow Jackets also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 78.6% of their attempts (11-of-14). Their defensive intensity paid off, forcing six turnovers and blocking two shots while grabbing 18 rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. This second-half surge helped them outscore Johnson C. Smith by 21 points, overturning a halftime deficit to secure the victory.

Overall, WVSU shot 45% from the field, including 39% from beyond the arc (11-of-28), and converted 73% of their free throws (19-of-26). They dominated the boards with a 45-35 rebounding advantage, with 13 offensive rebounds contributing to seven second-chance points. Their defense forced 11 turnovers, translating into 16 points off turnovers, and they tallied six steals and six blocks. The bench chipped in with a solid 18 points to support the starters.

Johnson C. Smith shot 40.9% overall, with just 24% from three-point range (4-of-17), and struggled at the free-throw line, making only 55% of their attempts (11-of-20). The Golden Bulls dominated the paint with 42 points and added 13 second-chance points from 11 offensive rebounds, but their 11 turnovers and second-half shooting woes were costly.

The first half opened with both teams trading baskets. WVSU's Martinez hit an early three-pointer, and Aymeric Toussaint added a dunk at 15:56, giving the Yellow Jackets momentum. However, they fell into an extended offensive drought, going over eight minutes without a field goal. During this stretch, Johnson C. Smith capitalized with a 14-2 run, fueled by second-chance points and transition opportunities, to take a 22-10 lead by the under-10 media timeout.

West Virginia State ended its scoring drought with a fast-break layup from Nate Mims at 7:11, sparking a brief rally. Martinez followed with a driving layup and a three-pointer, trimming the deficit to 31-25. Despite their late push, Johnson C. Smith maintained control with consistent scoring from Christopher Ealy and White, while their defense forced key turnovers.

In the final minute of the first half, White recovered his blocked layup attempt and scored on a tip-in layup at 1:21, making it 35-26. On the ensuing possession, WVSU's Dakari Bradford committed a turnover, returning the ball to Johnson C. Smith. However, the Golden Bulls missed a three-pointer, and Jaden Byers grabbed the rebound for WVSU at 0:42.

West Virginia State capitalized on the opportunity with Mims scoring a layup off an assist from Byers at 0:38. Mims drew a foul on the play and converted the and-one free throw, narrowing the deficit to 35-29. Johnson C. Smith then turned the ball over on a dribbling violation by Anthony Williams at 0:18, prompting WVSU to call a 30-second timeout to set up a final play.

Out of the timeout, the Yellow Jackets' momentum stalled as Mims committed a turnover on a bad pass at 0:09. On the other end, Orlando Hudson's jumper for Johnson C. Smith was blocked by Mims, and Toussaint secured the defensive rebound as the clock expired. Despite their late push, West Virginia State entered halftime trailing 35-29.

Coming out of the locker room, Johnson C. Smith struck first with a turnaround jumper from White at 19:45, followed by a hook shot in the paint from Toussaint at 19:23, keeping WVSU within six points at 37-31. White continued to dominate for Johnson C. Smith, adding a tip-in layup and a layup off an assist from Javon Anderson, extending the lead to 41-32 by 18:37.

West Virginia State managed to stay competitive through free throws, with Byers and Martinez each converting two at the line to trim the deficit to 41-34. However, Johnson C. Smith responded with inside scoring from Jared Davis and Sherrell, increasing their lead to 45-34 at 17:28.

After a defensive rebound by Toussaint, West Virginia State capitalized with a highlight play as Toussaint dunked off an assist from Byers at 16:06, narrowing the score to 45-38. However, turnovers and missed opportunities on WVSU's end allowed Johnson C. Smith to maintain their lead. Sherrell added two free throws at 15:53, extending their advantage to 47-38.

Arthur Cox's driving layup at 15:30 brought the Yellow Jackets back within seven points at 47-40, but they struggled to capitalize on defensive stops. Williams added a free throw for Johnson C. Smith at 15:15, keeping them ahead 48-40. Both teams exchanged misses and rebounds over the next minute, with WVSU unable to find their rhythm offensively.

At 14:24, Toussaint committed a personal foul, sending the teams into the under-15 timeout.

The Yellow Jackets made a strong push starting with Cox's defensive rebound and a three-pointer at 13:49, assisted by Byers, cutting Johnson C. Smith's lead to 48-43. Jacob Rice followed with a layup at 13:17, narrowing the deficit to five points. At 13:15, Cooper turned the ball over, leading to a scramble for possession. Martinez dove to the floor to secure the loose ball and immediately called a 30-second timeout to maintain possession. The timeout was extended into the media timeout as it was the first called timeout of the half.

Coming out of the break, Mims hit two free throws at 13:06, bringing the Yellow Jackets within three points at 50-47. Cox tied the game with two free throws at 11:23 and gave West Virginia State the lead at 11:16 with a driving layup. Martinez extended the lead to 54-52 with a clutch three-pointer at 10:54, and Bradford capped the run with a fast-break layup at 10:19, assisted by Brown, increasing WVSU's lead to 56-52 as Johnson C. Smith immediately called a timeout.

WVSU continued to build momentum with key offensive and defensive plays. After a Johnson C. Smith layup at 9:50 narrowed WVSU's lead to 56-54, Martinez answered with a pull-up jumper at 9:28, extending the margin to four points. Both teams traded baskets on the next possessions, with Brown converting a driving layup at 9:02 to keep WVSU ahead at 60-56.

Rice ignited a fast break with a defensive rebound, hitting a three-pointer at 8:36, assisted by Brown, to push WVSU's lead to 63-56. Rice followed with another layup at 7:59, extending the lead to 65-57. Martinez continued his hot streak, sinking a three-pointer at 7:20, followed by another at 6:40, stretching the lead to 71-58. Johnson C. Smith attempted to respond but struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities.

Brown maintained the offensive rhythm with a mid-range jumper at 5:15, and despite a brief Johnson C. Smith surge, Martinez drained his third three-pointer of the segment at 4:12, giving WVSU a commanding 76-65 lead heading into the final minutes of the game.

WVSU closed out the game with a strong defensive stand and timely scoring. Toussaint's steal at 2:57 set the tone, leading to Martinez hitting a three-pointer at 2:26, assisted by Brown, to extend the Yellow Jackets' lead to 79-65. Cox added a free throw at 2:03, and WVSU's defense continued to frustrate Johnson C. Smith with forced turnovers and missed shots.

Brown maintained the offensive momentum, converting one of two free throws at 1:31 to push the score to 81-65. Despite Johnson C. Smith's efforts on the offensive glass, WVSU held firm, with Martinez and Mims contributing key rebounds and defensive stops. Mims then iced the game with a dagger three-pointer at 0:43, extending the lead to 84-66.

Johnson C. Smith managed a couple of consolation points in the final moments, including a dunk by Sherrell with four seconds remaining, but the Yellow Jackets' dominant second half sealed an 84-69 victory.

West Virginia State will take the next week off before heading to Chowan on Monday, Nov. 18.