ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State University Men's basketball team ended 2021 on a positive note putting an end to a six-game losing streak with a 84-70 win over Claflin University Monday afternoon. The win to end the year got the team moving in the right direction heading into the New Year earning their first conference victory of the season.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald was unconscious from beyond the arc hitting a season-high 7-of-10 three-pointer while finishing with 29 points. Fitzgerald shot an efficient 8-of-12 from the field and knocked down all six of his free throws.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield ended the night with 12 points with five dimes and five boards along with two three pointers.
Tyler Young scored a career-high 11 points with six rebounds and two blocks on the afternoon.
Michael Melvin posted a season-high nine assists with eight points on the evening while
Caleb Butts led the charge off the bench with a career-high 13 points. The Trojans were lights out from downtown hitting 52% from beyond the three-point line. VSU had five different Panthers attain three fouls in the contest as the visitors totaled 25 fouls, which allowed the Trojans to shoot 27 free throws. The ball movement on the offensive end was a thing of beauty as the Trojans ended with 24 assists.
How It Happened
- Early and efficient play from Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald helped VSU gain the lead 10-5 with just under 16 minutes to go in the first half.
- While the Trojans tried to control the ball game, they fell cold, which made the Panthers put together an 8-0 run to take to the lead 20-15 with 11:19 to go in the half.
- Thanks to couple of blocked shots and a forced turnover in the last few possessions of the half, the Trojans were able to hold a slim 39-38 lead into the locker room.
- Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and led the squad with eight points in the first half of play. Terrence Hunter-Whitfield scored seven points with a steal. Tyler Young grabbed a game-high four boards along with five points in his first start while Michael Melvin led the game with four assists along with five points as well. Caleb Butts led the bench with seven points in just 13 minutes in the first half. The Trojans shot 52% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc while drawing 12 fouls and 12 free throws.
- The Trojans attempted to pull away early in the second half but the Panthers kept fighting to bring the score to 47-44 with 16:38 left in the second half.
- VSU broke the game wide open behind a 13-2 run as Fitzgerald lost his mind from beyond the arc hitting four three pointers to extend their lead to 64-50 with 10:06 left in the game.
- The Trojans fought their way to a 17-point lead, which is their largest margin they garnered all month as eight unanswered points brought the score to 74-57 with 5:32 left in the game.
- The Panthers made another push for the lead late scoring eight unanswered points to bring the VSU lead to just 74-67 with just under three minutes to go.
- The Trojans went on to close out the game with a few good defensive possessions to take the 84-70.
Inside the Box Score
- The Trojans drew 25 fouls and shot 27 free throws in the contest.
- Virginia State forced 16 turnovers in the contest.
- VSU hit 11-of-21 three-pointers
- The Trojans blocked five shots in the evening game.
Up Next
Virginia State will begin their four-game road trip on Sunday, January 2, 2022 against Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m
