Exhibition Game: Virginia State (0-0) vs. Thomas Nelson (0-0)

 
 

Date	Sunday, November 7, 2021
Time	2:00 p.m.
Location	Ettrick, VA (Multipurpose Center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882

 
The VSU men's basketball team enters the VSU Multipurpose center for the first time this season to take on the Gators of Thomas Nelson Community College.

Virginia State returns home after a short road trip to Howard University on Thursday, October 28 then to Virginia Commonwealth University on November 1. The two-game stint to start the preseason will be the only division one teams the Trojans will face this season.

Sunday's game is the third and final exhibition game for the Trojans, as the final game of the preseason will allow the squad to clean up their errors before the regular season that starts Friday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m against Mansfield University.  
 
Virginia State guards Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald and Antwan Miles will attempt to repeat their performance against HU as the two combined for 41 points in the evening matchup. Fitzgerald knocked down five three-pointers as he took 16 points into the halftime break. Miles accounted for six steals against the MEAC member, as he was able to do most of his damage in the second half with 11 points. Freshman Daryl Mackey and Kylon Lewis will look to build on their showings against VCU as both ended the game with 10 points apiece while shooting over 50% from the field.
 
Scouting the Gators
Thomas Nelson Community College became a member of the New South Athletic Conference (NSAC) prior to the 2020-2021 season. The Gators, who previously did not have a conference affiliation, had been playing other community college programs in Virginia and surrounding states but were not able to compete in any sort of post season.
The Gators finished the season 17-9, finishing on a four-game winning streak in the 2019-2020 season prior to the cancelation of the season due to the pandemic.