INSTITUTE, W. Va. – The Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team battled hard but fell to West Virginia State on day one of the Earl Llyod Classic.

The Rams are 0-1 (0-0 CIAA) while West Virginia State moved to 1-0 (0-0 MEC).

Isaac Parson led all scorers with 18 followed by Jalen Alston who had a double-double of 14 and 12 rebounds. Jahnarious Snell also had 14 points and Jeremy Dixon chipped in 10 points.

Quick Inside the Numbers:
The Rams scored 32 points in the paint and 13 fast-break points. WSSU shot 21-of-61 from the field and 7-of-20 from threes. As a team, they finished 8-of-13 from the free-throw line.

Points went back-and-forth early on in the first half till WVSU took a five-point lead 19-14 with 10:58 to play. The Rams stayed within five, but West Virginia found themselves up ten, 29-19 with 7:10 to play in the half. WSSU came within four, but WVSU went into halftime leading 39-35.

In the second half, trailed all the way up till it was 12:31 left in the game when they took a 52-51 lead. A three-pointer from Snell gave the Rams a four-point lead with 11:22 to play in the game. At the under eight-minute media timeout, WSSU still led by one point, but WVSU regained the lead with 7:22 to play. Tied at 60, West Virginia increased their lead by six with four minutes remaining in the game. They went on to win by seven, 74-67.

WSSU will close out the Earl Llyod Classic tomorrow, Saturday, November 11 taking on Davis & Elkins at 2 p.m.