The University of the Virgin Islands Buccaneers men’s basketball team opened up their four-game road trip with a 96-66 defeat against Southern University at New Orleans on Thursday night.
UVI fell behind early in the game, trailing 27-10 midway through the first half. The team’s offensive struggles were significant, allowing the Knights to capitalize on their mistakes and extend the lead to 49-25 by halftime.
While the Buccaneers improved offensively in the second half, they were unable to slow down their opponents on the defensive end of the floor. Consequently, the Knights built on their lead and kept the Buccaneers at bay to cruise to the 96-66 victory.
Three players scored double figures for UVI. Junior guard Khaleed Heywood led the Buccaneers with 15 points in his season debut. Junior forward Evik Amy contributed 12 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, all from beyond the arc, while Graduate forward Brandon Rasmussen also added 12 points.
The Buccaneers will return to action on February 7, facing Oakwood University in a neutral-site matchup at Dillard University’s Dent Hall. In their last meeting, the Buccaneers emerged victoriously with a 75-73 win. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST.
