BALTIMORE, MD (LOOTPRESS) – After a historic debut in the CIAA Tournament this week, the Bluefield State Men’s basketball team pulled off what is being called the upset of the tournament thus far, knocking out defending CIAA champions Winston-Salem State in an exhilarating overtime victory.
Bluefield State University’s Men’s and Women’s basketball teams this week participated in their very first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament since rejoining the conference. The 2024 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournament is set to run from February 26 to March 3 at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Jodan Hinds led BSU in both scoring and rebounds on Wednesday, securing 16 points and 11 boards, while Ja’Mere Redus contributed 15 points and 5 assists.
Winston-Salem State’s countered with a whopping 34 points, having been the only player on the team to have broken double digits in scoring aside from Isaac Parson, who scored 10 and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Bluefield State ultimately clinched the victory by a one-point margin, with the matchup concluding with a score of 67-66 in BSU’s favor.
The BSU Men’s team also one its opener on Monday which, along with Wednesday’s victory over Winston-Salem State, mark the first wins in the CIAA tournament since the 1950s.
Bluefield State University, formerly known as Bluefield State College, was a member of the CIAA from 1932 to 1955 before joining the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). After competing as an independent NCAA DII member, the university returned to the CIAA on July 1st, 2023.
The Bluefield State Women’s team are currently competing for their second win of the tournament, and the Men’s team will compete on Thursday against Virginia Union in the tournament’s third round.