SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Junior guard Thomas Lang (New Market, Md./Linganore) scored a game-high 23 points to lead Shepherd University (3-0) to a 78-68 win over Virginia Union (1-2) in men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Tuesday night.

Lang hit on 9-of-18 effort from the floor with a 5-of-12 performance from three-point range. He added four rebounds and four assists.

Senior forward Winston Burgess (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) had 16 points and eight rebounds, while senior guard Derek McKnight (Teaneck, NJ/Gaston (N.C.) Day School/Louisburg CC) added 14 points and eight assists. Freshman guard Jon Preston (Brandywine, Md./Rock Creek Christian) chipped in with 13 points.

Will Jenkins scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Panthers. Demarius Pitts added 15 points and four assists, while Jemal Smith was also in double figures with 10 points.

Shepherd led by as many as 19 points at 69-50 after a dunk by Burgess with 6:18 left in the second half. The Panthers proceeded on an 18-5 run to cut the deficit to six points at 74-68 after a three-pointer by Smith with 1:21 remaining. Shepherd closed on 4-0 run on a 4-of-4 effort from the line by McKnight to seal the win.

Shepherd connected on 46.7 percent (28-60) from the floor with a 36.7 percent (11-30) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 91.7 percent (11-12) of their free throws.

Virginia Union shot 45.9 percent (28-61) from the floor with a 17.6 percent effort (3-17) from three-point range. The Panthers shot 75 percent (9-12) from the charity stripe.

Virginia Union had a 36-32 edge in rebounding. The Rams forced 16 turnovers and committed 12.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host West Virginia State at 4 p.m.