ERIE, Pa.—On the eve of their first NCAA Division II tournament game with Willard Coker at the helm, the Virginia Union University Panthers endured a rigorous two-hour workout at the Hammerville Center yesterday. The No. 2 seed Panthers are refreshed and seemingly ready to rip and run against No. 7 seed Indiana (Pa.) University in today’s quarterfinals of the Atlantic Region tournament, which tips off at 2:30 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Virginia Union barely survived a late flurry by St. Augustine’s on Friday night in advancing to last night’s CIAA tournament championship game. The Panthers, getting a game-high 21 points and sterling leadership from Brandon Byerson, escaped with a 57-54 victory in the semifinals. In the championship game, which was played late last night, they faced Johnson C. Smith, a 63-56 winner over Virginia State in the other Friday semifinal.

The jerseys hang from the ceiling, above mid-court, impossible to miss. They honor six of the great players in men’s basketball history at Virginia Union University. Off in the corner, obscured by a support beam and out of sight of more than half the people in the stands, is a placard commemorating the career of Dave Robbins. The sign is not small, but you have to look for it to see it.

Despite an impressive second-half run, the Richmond women’s basketball team fell to Charlotte 62-55 yesterday in an Atlantic-10 game at the Robins Center. Sophomore Brittani Shells scored a team-high 15 points. Charlotte controlled most of the first half, as guard Shannon McCallum scored 13 points. The 49ers went into the locker room with a 29-23 advantage, marking the first time Richmond has trailed at the break since starting conference play.

Virginia Union hasn’t had many opportunities to play in front of a home crowd this season, so the road-weary Panthers were ready to put on a show last night. They defeated Elizabeth City State 80-71, raising their play to reflect the big-game atmosphere that awaited them in their third home game of the season. “I thought that was the best game we’ve played at home,“ coach Willard Coker said.

The electric atmosphere surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama resonated beyond Capitol Hill and Washington’s borders yesterday. Venues across the Richmond region welcomed those wanting to witness the historic event and share the moment with others.

Virginia State is sick and tired of losing to Virginia Union. And for the first time in a couple of seasons, the Trojans appeared poised to do something about it. When Trey Mines hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Trojans a 61-60 lead with 6:17 remaining last night at the Coliseum, the Panthers’ series winning streak was in jeopardy.

Ayear ago, Virginia Union guard Brandon Byerson didn’t have much to smile or laugh about, in part because he had lost confidence in his usually reliable jump shot. Nowadays, Byerson wears an easy smile. Even though he still struggles with his shot at times, he said he hasn’t had this much fun playing basketball since his days at Thomas Dale High School.

Gregg Thondique had his way with Livingstone last night, but it was guard Braxton Byerson who found a way to deliver down the stretch on an otherwise cold-shooting night at Barco-Stevens Hall. Byerson knocked down two clutch 3-pointers in the last 2:14 to help the Panthers survive the stubborn Bears 72-69. But Union’s seventh win a row wasn’t sealed until Livingstone’s Tayloe Taylor missed a 20-footer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

Virginia Union men’s and women’s basketball teams have changed their schedules to avoid conflict with the president-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration. The two VUU teams’ games against Bowie State—originally scheduled for Jan. 20, inauguration day—have been moved to Jan. 22. The games will still be played in the A.C. Jordan Arena on the campus of Bowie State. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m., the men’s game at 7:30.

Virginia Union scored a win in its first home game of the season—the same night it named its home floor after retired coach Dave Robbins.

Dave Robbins will not be on the bench for a Virginia Union home opener for the first time in 31 years. Instead, the Panthers’ former coach will be on the floor tonight during a dedication at Barco-Stevens Hall before Virginia Union’s 7:30 game against Fayetteville State. The renovated home court, which was used during three national championship seasons, will be named Robbins Court.

Michael Bailey, who has been athletic director at Virginia Union since 2001, announced yesterday he will take over as the school’s football coach. Bailey, 43, replaces Greg Richardson, whose contract wasn’t renewed after just one season in which VUU went 5-5. Richardson had replaced Arrington Jones III, who resigned in March after leading the Panthers to a 9-3 season and a berth in the CIAA championship game and the Pioneer Bowl.

It’s been a long time since Virginia Union has been without at least one player—a proven and reliable scorer—who can keep the Panthers afloat until help arrives.

Willard Coker walked into an aging Barco-Stevens Hall, then surveyed his Virginia Union players during an afternoon shoot-around. He didn’t instruct or critique. He just watched.