ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State University men's basketball team dropped their third-straight road game at the hands of Fayetteville State University 69-66 late Wednesday evening.

 
After two undesirable outings, Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald was back to himself scoring a team-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range along with a steal. Antwan Miles amassed a team-high in rebounds (5) and assists (5) while scoring 14 points on a 50% shooting percentage. The Trojans shot 57% from beyond the arc in the first half while shooting 52% from the field in the second half. VSU got almost half their points in the paint scoring 34 of their 66 points.

 
How It Happened

• Through the first five minutes with the score at 7-6 in favor of VSU, Fitzgerald came out playing with a purpose scoring six of the seven points behind a pair of three pointers.

 

• The two teams would trade baskets through the midway mark of the first half as the Trojans maintained the edge yet, four points was the largest lead VSU would attain which brought the score to 14-12 with 7:38 to go in the first half.

 

• The Broncos would take the lead for the second time in the game, 22-21, following four-straight points from FSU's Raymon Pratt.

 
 

• A Cle'Von Greene three-pointer and an Antwan Miles layup under a minute to go in the first half gave the Trojans a 29-25 lead heading into the half time break.

 
 

• Francis Fitzgerald tied for a game leading 11 points behind a 44% field goal percentage while his partner-in-crime Antwan Miles added six points, four rebounds and a game-high three assists. The Trojans shot better from beyond the arc than they did from the field as Virginia State was 36% shooting 2-pointers and 57% shooting three-pointers. VSU outrebounded FSU 23-18 in the first half of play. VSU also locked the Broncos up defensively forcing a 31% shooting percentage and a 33% three-point percentage.

 

• While the Trojans were able to push their lead to six points to begin the second half, the Broncos was able to tie the ball game at 35 with 14:27 left in the second half.

 

• Virginia State had five different players score during the stretch to bring the score to another tie at 51 with eight minutes to go in the game.

 

• The next few minutes saw two ties and three lead changes before the Broncos took a five-point lead with the score at 60-55 with just over four minutes left to go in the game.

 

• Down but not out, the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to bring the game to within one with the score at 67-66 in favor of FSU.

 

• The Trojans were a little sloppy with the ball at the end of the game turning it over with three seconds left in the game, which helped lift the Broncos over the Trojans 69-66.

 
Inside the Box Score

• The Trojans bench was more productive than the Broncos bench outscoring them 12-6

 

• VSU was able to hold the Broncos to just a 31% field goal percentage in the first half

 

• Virginia State shot an efficient 42% from downtown in the evening matchup

 
Next Up
The Trojans will be back at the crib after five-straight road games to compete in the first doubleheader of the season against the Falcons of St. Augustine's on Thursday, December 9. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.