Box Score INSTITUTE, WV – The Elizabeth City State University men's basketball team dropped a hard fought matchup to Earl Lloyd Classic host West Virginia State University 89-82 on Friday night inside of the Walker Convocation Center. The Vikings were able to trim a WVSU lead that reached 14 in the second half down to just four but the Yellow Jackets eventually pulled away for the season opening win.
 
The Vikings (0-1) were led by sophomore guard Zaccheus Hobbs who led the Vikings with a 29-point performance. The Maysville, N.C. native had a great night shooting from the floor as he paced the Vikings shooting 10-for-14 from the floor, 2-for-4 from behind the three-point line and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Three other Vikings scored in double figures for the night as Shyheid Petteway, John Maynor and Justin Faison all tallied 11 points in the contest.
 
ECSU was able to cut into the West Virginia State lead by shooting the ball extremely well in the second half, with a 16-for-29 effort from the field. For the game the Vikings shot 52.6 percent from the field and a scorching 81 percent from the free throw line.
 
West Virginia State was paced by junior forward Gus Stone who paced the Yellow Jackets with a 21-point effort. Pat Johnson-Agwu, Glen Abram and Sable Cooper all scored in double figures for WVSU.
 
It will be a short turnaround for the Vikings as they will face off against University of Virginia College at Wise at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the final day of the Earl Lloyd Classic. UVA-Wise defeated Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Livingstone in the early matchup of first day of the Classic, 104-82. The Cavaliers tied the program single-game record for most three-point field goals made with 18. Freshman guard Briggs Parris had a solid first game in a Cavaliers uniform as he paced UVA-Wise with nine three-point field goals.