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West Virginia State University Athletics

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Photo: Todd Griffith
78
Winner Livingstone Living 1-0,0-0 CIAA
71
West Virginia St. WVSt 0-1,0-0 MEC
Winner
Livingstone Living
1-0,0-0 CIAA
78
Final
71
West Virginia St. WVSt
0-1,0-0 MEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Livingstone Living 45 33 78
West Virginia St. WVSt 38 33 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Bryan Shepherd, Sports Information Director

Men's Basketball falls in first leg of Earl Lloyd Classic to Livingstone

INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- West Virginia State University's Men's Basketball team opened its 2024-25 basketball season with a 78-71 loss to Livingstone College in the Earl Lloyd Classic, a conference crossover challenge honoring the legacy of Earl Lloyd. The Yellow Jackets showed moments of promise but struggled with turnovers and consistency, falling behind early and unable to recover.

State's Miguel Martinez led with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four three-pointers. Arthur Cox added 14 points and five rebounds before fouling out. However, the team shot 35% from the field and committed 14 turnovers.

For Livingstone, Jamal Cannady paced the offense with 18 points, while Kingsley Ijeoma added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Livingstone scored 44 points in the paint and limited themselves to nine turnovers.

WVSU began the game with an early three-pointer from Miguel Martinez and a mid-range jumper by Arthur Cox, giving the Yellow Jackets an 8-7 lead. Livingstone responded with a 6-0 run to regain the lead before the first media timeout, holding an 11-8 advantage.

After the timeout, Cox scored on a layup, and Martinez added another three-pointer to keep WVSU close. Livingstone used its size to score in the paint and added points off the bench, extending their lead to 22-15 at the second media timeout.

WVSU closed the half with contributions from Martinez, who hit a three-pointer and added free throws, and Cox, who scored inside. Livingstone maintained their lead through efficient scoring, entering halftime ahead 45-38.

State opened the second half with scoring from Martinez and Cox, as Martinez's three-pointer and a jumper by Jaden Byers helped trim the lead to 53-46 at the first media timeout.

The Yellow Jackets continued to add points through a fast-break layup by Jae Slack and free throws from Cox, but Livingstone maintained control with scoring in the paint and three-pointers. At the next media timeout, WVSU trailed 63-52.

In the final stretch, Martinez hit a three-pointer and Cox added a pair of layups, but WVSU could not overcome Livingstone's rebounding and inside scoring.

State will conclude the Earl Lloyd Classic Saturday afternoon with a 4:00 p.m. tilt against Johnson C. Smith

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