University of the Virgin Islands freshman guard Joshua Rodgers led the way for the Buccaneers in an 84-81 victory over Dillard University on Monday night at Albert A. Dent Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
After falling short the previous day, the Buccaneers were able to avenge their loss to the Bleu Devils.
UVI initially found themselves behind on the scoreboard early, with the score at 18-15 midway through the first period.
That would be the last time the team trailed in the game.
The momentum shifted decisively in favor of the Buccaneers as they went on an impressive 15-0 run, establishing a commanding 30-18 lead.
Rodgers made his first appearance, emerging from the bench with eight minutes remaining in the half amidst the Buccaneers’ run, immediately making a significant impact. The 5-foot-10 sharpshooter scored nine of the team’s 11 points during a stretch, shooting a flawless three-for-three from beyond the arc.
The Buccaneers dominated the remainder of the period, scoring at will, with a field goal percentage of 47.7% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range. At halftime, the Buccaneers headed back to the locker room leading 46-37, fueled by a 14-point first-half performance by senior guard Khari Person.
In the early stages of the second half, the Buccaneers maintained control of the game. Although Dillard narrowed the lead to five points, another offensive surge by the Buccaneers extended their advantage to 14 points, their largest lead of the night, with 8:29 remaining. The Bleu Devils responded with a run of their own, outscoring the Buccaneers 17-4 during a scoring drought. With the Buccaneers clinging to a narrow 80-79 lead, senior forward Denny Gonzalez delivered on a layup, assisted by junior point guard Chad Molloy, to push their lead to three points.
Dillard scored on the ensuing possession, reducing the lead back to one. However, a foul by Dillard during the next Buccaneers’ offensive possession sent Rodgers to the free-throw line, where he successfully made both shots, extending the Buccaneers’ lead to 84-81. Dillard’s final attempt, a half-court heave, was unsuccessful, allowing the Buccaneers to escape with the victory.
Rodgers finished the game with a career high of 22 points, including 13 second-half points. The St. Croix native made seven of his eleven attempts from the field and five of seven from three-point range.
Molloy recorded a stat line of 12 points, six assists, and three steals. Person, junior forward Evik Amy, and Gonzalez were three other Buccaneers scoring in double figures with 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively.
Next up, UVI will shift its focus to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Basketball Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from February 24 to March 1. The Buccaneers will enter as the 8-seed from the Western Division and will take on the 5-seed in the Eastern Division in the first round of the single-elimination tournament. All games will be streamed live via www.UrbanEdgeNetwork.net.
