MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Virginia State University men's basketball team fell short for the first time this season by a score of 105-90 to Barton College in the evening matchup.
 
For the third game in a row, Francis Fitzgerald was the leading scorer for the Trojans as he finished with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Jordan Hernandez scored double-digits for the second time this season as he accounted for 13 points going 6-of-8 from the field along with seven rebounds. Jonathan Norfleet added 12 points with two dimes. Ethan Wilson led the charge off the bench with nine points and two assists in the evening contest.
 
Virginia State's bench play assisted in giving the squad a shot to win as the VSU bench outscored BC's bench 35-14. Defensively, the Trojans forced 12 turnovers and was able to turn them into 21 points. Neither of the teams were able to knock down the three-ball as the two shot under 25% while scoring 50+ points in the paint. 
 
 
How It Happened
 

• Both sides traded baskets to start the game with Jordan Hernandez finding early heat scoring six of teams first 10 points. The Bulldogs gained a slight edge early 13-10 with 15:00 left in the first half. 

 

• Halfway through the first half, BC took to a 7-2 run to bring the score to 26-17 with 10:24 left to go.

 

• Thanks to back-to-back buckets from Francis Fitzgerald, the Trojans were able to cut the lead to just four with 7:24 left.

 

• VSU scored seven straight to push the score to 37-36 in favor of the Bulldogs with 3:35 left to go.

 

• The Bulldogs went on a crucial 5-0 run headed into the locker room with the score at 46-40.

 

• VSU held BC to just 43% from the field and 3-of-10 from three-point range in the first half but were able outscore the Trojans by six. Virginia State was slightly cold in the first half of play as well with a 41% shooting percentage and a 16% three-point percentage.

 

• The Trojans made a push for the lead to open the second half of play going on a 9-2 run to take the lead, 51-48, with 17:21 left to go on the game.

 

• Midway through the second half the Bulldogs broke the game open behind a 14-2 run to extend their lead to 67-55.

 

• VSU tried to claw their way back into striking distance but the Bulldogs would extend their lead to 21 points behind a 13-4 run to make the score 98-77 with just under four minutes to go in the contest.

 

• Virginia State made their last attempt at a comeback scoring seven unanswered points to make the score 98-84. The Bulldogs were able to push their lead out to 15 points in the final minutes of the game to make the final score 105-90.

 
Inside the Box Score
 
The Bulldogs were held to 0-of-5 from beyond the arc in the second half.
 
 The VSU bench scored 35 points while BC scored 14.
 
The Trojans forced 12 turnovers in the game.
 
Virginia State shot 45% from the field in the contest.

 
Up Next
 
Virginia State will participate in the IUP Thanksgiving Classic November 27-28 on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Trojans will take on the hosts Saturday at 4:00 p.m. then Pitt-Johstown University on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.