BLUEFIELD - The men's basketball team started their 2018 season by welcoming the Bluefield State Big Blues to the Dome for the Battle of the Bluefields. The Rams, for the fifth year in a row took the game, this one 79-65.

The Blues got up on the Rams in the middle of the first half 11-9. The Rams continued to battle, but finished down against BSC 32-30 at the end of the first half. The Rams leading scorers for the first half were David Tripp with nine points, Olatunji Ebifemi with five, and Ty'quon Reid with five. The second half started quick with BC pushing to a 35-35 tie. The Rams continued to push and extended its lead to their largest margin in the game's final minutes.

The leading scorers for the Rams were Reid with 21, Tripp with 16, and Niquan Cousins with 12.