Bridgewater, VA – The Southern Virginia University men's basketball team earned their first victory of the season, edging Eastern Mennonite University in a thrilling 77-76 contest.

The Knights started strong, with DJ Green scoring the team's first seven points. Eli Ballstaedt followed with key contributions, helping Southern Virginia jump to an early six-point lead. However, the closely contested game saw 14 lead changes, and the teams went into halftime tied.

In the second half, the Royals gained momentum, building a seven-point lead midway through the period. The Knights rallied behind Green and Ballstaedt, tying the game with five minutes remaining. A burst of offense gave Southern Virginia a 73-66 lead—their largest of the game—with just three minutes left.

Eastern Mennonite capitalized on back-to-back Southern Virginia turnovers, cutting into the Knights' lead and eventually going up by one point in the final minute. With the game on the line, Eli Ballstaedt calmly sank two clutch free throws to reclaim the lead, securing the 77-76 win.

Eli Ballstaedt led the Knights with a game-high 22 points, while DJ Green followed with an efficient 18 points. The tightly contested game saw the score tied 10 times, with both teams committing 14 turnovers. Southern Virginia's defense remained active, recording 12 steals, led by Tillman Johnson with four.

The Knights now turn their attention to tournament host Bridgewater College, whom they face on Saturday at 6:00 PM. Southern Virginia holds a 6-1 all-time record against the Eagles but looks to avenge their last meeting, a 67-71 loss in 2016.

For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University men's basketball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.