WHEREAS, the Virginia State University men's basketball team won the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament Championship in 2016, securing the team's first conference championship title in more than 25 years; and

WHEREAS, after finishing the regular season with a 20 - 5 overall record and a 14 - 2 conference record, the Virginia State University Trojans defeated the two-time defending champion Livingstone College Blue Bears by a score of 89 - 79 to claim the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA) Tournament Championship title; and

WHEREAS, Kevin Williams was named Most Valuable Player of the CIAA Tournament and was named to the CIAA All-Tournament team, along with fellow Virginia State University Trojans Elijah Moore and Javon Moore; and

WHEREAS, leading the Virginia State University Trojans to their third consecutive winning season, Head Coach Lonnie Blow, Jr., earned his 100th career win and was named as the 2016 CIAA Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, the victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of the student-athletes, the leadership and guidance of the coaches and staff, and the enthusiastic support of the entire Virginia State University community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia State University men's basketball team on winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament Championship in 2016; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lonnie Blow, Jr., head coach of the Virginia State University men's basketball team, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the team's exceptional achievement.