RICH CITY HOOPS | October 29, 2026 | Richmond, Virginia
# Virginia State Basketball Faces Early Reality Check as Trojans Prepare for November Homecoming
*Following a 75–48 exhibition loss to Old Dominion, Virginia State returns to Ettrick with an updated preseason schedule and a November slate packed with home games.*
## A New Season Begins With Lessons From Norfolk
ETTRICK, VA — October 29, 2026
The road to another competitive CIAA basketball season has officially begun for Virginia State's men's basketball team.
Virginia State suffered a 75–48 exhibition defeat against Old Dominion on October 24 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, providing an early test for a Trojans program preparing to return to conference competition.
The loss does not count toward Virginia State's regular-season record, but the performance revealed areas requiring attention before November.
With another exhibition approaching and several consecutive home games scheduled, the Trojans have opportunities to make adjustments before their official season begins.
## Old Dominion's Shooting Creates Problems
Old Dominion established control early, opening the game with a 9–2 advantage.
The Monarchs carried a 41–23 lead into halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the second half.
Virginia State struggled to contain Old Dominion's perimeter shooting.
The Monarchs converted 14 of their 32 three-point attempts and finished shooting 53.2% from the field.
Old Dominion also controlled the rebounding battle, 36–24.
For Virginia State, guard Jaden Walker provided one of the team's strongest individual performances.
Walker finished with a team-high 10 points, converting five of six field-goal attempts.
O'Maundre Harris and Trevor Smith contributed eight points apiece.
Despite the difficult result, Virginia State committed only nine turnovers compared with Old Dominion's 13.
That ball-security advantage provides one encouraging statistic from an otherwise challenging exhibition.
## An Important Schedule Update for Trojans Fans
Virginia State's next scheduled appearance comes Wednesday, November 4, at the Multipurpose Center in Ettrick.
According to the university's current athletics calendar, the Trojans will host Averett University at 6 p.m. in an exhibition.
This differs from Virginia State's September 28 schedule announcement, which originally identified Ferrum College as the November 4 opponent.
The updated athletics calendar lists Averett, making it the appropriate reference for fans planning to attend.
The Trojans' first listed regular-season contest follows Tuesday, November 10, when the University of the District of Columbia visits Ettrick for a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
Fans should consult the official schedule before traveling, particularly because the published preseason information has changed.
## November Brings a Major Home-Court Opportunity
Virginia State's November schedule provides an unusually concentrated stretch of home basketball.
Following the November 10 opener, the Trojans host their annual Tip-Off Classic.
Shepherd University visits November 13 at 7 p.m., followed by East Stroudsburg University on November 14 at 6 p.m.
Conference competition then brings three additional opponents to Ettrick.
Winston-Salem State is scheduled for November 19, Shaw University for November 24, and Elizabeth City State for November 28.
Those games provide an early opportunity for Virginia State to establish its identity before a demanding December road schedule.
For Central Virginia basketball supporters, the home-heavy schedule also creates several opportunities to experience CIAA competition without leaving the region.
## Lonnie Blow Jr. Enters Another Season
Head coach Lonnie Blow Jr. returns for his 14th season leading Virginia State.
The Trojans' schedule includes the December CP3 HBCU Classic in Washington, D.C., and the Freedom Classic against Virginia Union on January 16.
Those events will provide additional opportunities to measure the team's progress.
For now, the immediate challenge is turning lessons from the Old Dominion exhibition into improved execution.
Better defensive rotations, stronger rebounding and more consistent offensive production will be important as Virginia State approaches regular-season competition.
The October result does not determine what kind of season the Trojans will have.
It does, however, establish an early benchmark.
With November basketball returning to Ettrick, Virginia State has an opportunity to turn a difficult preseason test into preparation for a demanding CIAA campaign.
## Sources
Old Dominion Athletics — October 24 exhibition recap: https://odusports.com/news/2026/10/24/odu-rolls-past-virginia-state-75-48
Virginia State Athletics — October 24 official box score: https://govsutrojans.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2026-27/old-dominion-university/boxscore/6508
Virginia State Athletics — Current 2026–27 schedule: https://govsutrojans.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2026-27
Virginia State Athletics — September 28 schedule announcement: https://govsutrojans.com/news/2026/9/28/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-announces-2026-27-schedule.aspx