Staunton, Va. – The Southern Virginia men's basketball team closed out its final road game of the regular season with an 83–71 victory over the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin University, highlighted by a historic night from DJ Green.
Jude Ballstaedt opened the scoring with a three-pointer to give the Knights an early edge, while strong interior play from Austin Mitchell and Luc DeVore helped Southern Virginia establish control. Freshmen Ashton Davis and Mason Hunter provided an immediate spark off the bench, combining for five straight points as the Knights built a six-point lead they would not relinquish.
Southern Virginia controlled the paint throughout the first half, pairing efficient inside scoring with a 20–11 rebounding advantage to take a 36–27 lead into halftime. Ballstaedt led all scorers at the break with nine points, while Davis added eight off the bench.
The Knights seized momentum early in the second half as Mitchell scored six points in the opening three minutes. DJ Green then caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down a pair of three-pointers that not only halted a Mary Baldwin run but also pushed him past the 1,000-point mark for the program. Green became just the fifth player in program history to reach the milestone.
Green continued to take over down the stretch, scoring 22 points in the second half alone. His scoring surge helped Southern Virginia build its largest lead of the night at 15, and he sealed the win with five unanswered points in a 30-second span late in the game as the Knights pulled away for the 83–71 victory.
Southern Virginia dominated the glass with a 36–21 rebounding advantage and connected on nine three-pointers while shooting 60 percent from deep.
Green finished with a game-high 22 points, including five three-pointers. Tillman Johnson added 15 points, four steals, and five assists, while Ballstaedt chipped in 12 points. Mitchell recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Knights wrap up the regular season at home, first hosting a non-conference matchup against Mary Washington on Thursday, February 19, at 6:00 p.m., before Senior Day on Saturday, February 21, at 2:00 p.m., as Southern Virginia turns its focus toward postseason play.
For all the latest updates on Southern Virginia University men's basketball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_mbb on Instagram.
