UVI Bucs to Host Fisk and Oakwood in Conference Matchups
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fisk (TN) | 39 | 52 | 91 |
|
Virgin Islands | 31 | 51 | 82 |
ST THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, January 4, 2024 – The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) men's basketball team will host Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) foes Fisk University and Oakwood University at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on January 4 and 6, respectively. The two-game homestand will be UVI's first conference home games of the season.
The Buccaneers enter the games with a 2-6 overall record and an 0-2 mark in the GCAC as they seek their first win in conference play this season.
The Buccaneers will turn to Jalil Langston, their leading scorer, to pace them offensively. Langton currently ranks seventh in the conference with 16.4 points per game. The junior guard has scored in double digits in seven of eight games this season, including a season-high 31 points the team's last outing versus Clinton College in December. Defensively, he also leads the conference recording 2.4 steals per game.
Maurice Smith, Jr. has established himself as another key piece for the Buccaneers. Smith, Jr. averages 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 39.3% from behind the arc. These stats rank Smith, Jr. at 11th, sixth, sixth and seventh in the conference, respectively.
William Steger has been off to a hot start and will look to continue as he is currently averaging 15 points and 7.5 assists per game since his season debut for the Buccaneers.
Preseason All-GCAC guard Naythan Shaw-Clarke will return to the court after being sidelined the last two games due to injury.
The Buccaneers' first opponent, Fisk, comes into the matchup at 4-9 overall and 1-3 in GCAC play, and currently ranks eighth in the conference.
Oakwood enters their matchup with the Buccaneers at 1-11 and 1-3 (GCAC) including six losses on the road which should give UVI the competitive advantage this weekend.
On Thursday, UVI's matchup with Fisk will tip off at 8 p.m. AST, while Saturday's action against Oakwood will begin at 9 p.m. AST. Admission is free for both contests.
