Box Score MURFREESBORO- The Chowan University men's basketball team earned an 82-71 victory over Virginia Union University on Saturday evening on Bob Burke Court in the Helms Center.  The Hawks improve to 15-5 overall and 8-2 in CIAA play with the victory.  The Panthers slip to 12-10 on the year and 5-5 in league action with the setback. 

Kortez Smith drained a career-high 31 points while Jeremy Smith scored 26 points for the Chowan Blue and White, also a career high.  Marco Haskins chipped in 19 points in the victory.  Kortez Smith and Jeremy Smith both grabbed eight rebounds (one offensive, seven defensive) in the win. 

Tavon Mealy led the effort for the Panthers with 19 points while Ray Anderson added 15 points in the setback.  Robert Valentine scored 12 points with Ke'Andre Gibson adding 11 points in the loss.  Danny McElroy grabbed a team-high eight rebounds (five offensive, three defensive).

Chowan grabbed the momentum early in the contest and never looked back.   The Hawks maintained control for the entire first half.  Kortez Smith's three-pointer with just under nine minutes left in the game pushed Chowan ahead 24-14.  The Hawks held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the first half and carried a 46-30 lead heading into halftime. 

Chowan continued to dominate in the second half and used a three-pointer by Haskins to pull away 62-41; their largest lead of the game (21 points).  The Hawks led by 11 or more points for the remainder of the contest, easily securing the 82-71 victory.

Chowan returns to action on February 2^nd when the Hawks travel to compete against Bluefield State College.  Tip-off for the non-conference match-up is scheduled for 6:00pm.