Virginia State (5-7) vs. Virginia Union (10-3)

 

Date	January 15, 2022
Time	4:00 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Ettrick, VA (VSU Multipurpose center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882

 
 
The VSU men's basketball team will finally get back to action after getting a weeks' worth of rest following the postponement of their last matchup against Johnson C. Smith this past Monday. The Trojans look to even their conference record at 3-3 while improving their season record to 6-7. Coach Lonnie Blow's squad is currently third in the conference in assist/turnover ratio with 0.86. Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald is currently third in the conference in points per game (17.3), fourth in field goal percentage (49.7%), 10^th in free throw percentage (74%) and seventh in made three-pointers (23). After two huge performances his last two games, Terrence Hunter-Whitfield is creeping his way into the top-10 as he is ninth in rebounds per game with 7.1, 10^th in made three-pointers per game with 1.7 and 12^th in points per game with 13.7.

 
 
Last Time Out

•  Terrence Hunter-Whitfield has had the best two-game stretch the Trojans have seen in recent history as he followed his 30-point performance up with a 28-point performance against LC. Hunter-Whitfield grabbed a team-high nine boards while knocking down 3-of-4 of his shots from downtown.

 

•  Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field while grabbing eight rebounds.

 

• Michael Melvin contributed nine points along with seven rebounds and two assists on the evening.

 

•  Aggressive play from the Trojans led to 28 LC fouls and 30 free throws for VSU.

 

• LC was held to 14% from three-point range. 

 



Scouting the Panthers

The Panthers are currently tied for second in the conference as the team has acquired six wins by 10 or more points this season. Two of the three of the Panthers losses have come in overtime this season while the third loss came against Shippensburg in the Trojan Tip-Off Classic. VUU will look to keep their conference winning-streak alive this Saturday as they maintain a 3-0 conference record. It is no surprise that the Panthers are among the best in the conference in numerous statistical categories. Coach Jay Butler has best defensive team in the conference as they lead the CIAA in opponent field goal percentage (38%), opponent three-point percentage (28%), defensive rebounds per game (26.9), rebounding margin (9.4), forced turnovers per game (16.4) and second in steals (115). That 38% also ranks them fifth in the nation while the 28% ranks them seventh in the nation. Of course the Panthers are pretty dangerous on offense as well averaging 73 points per game. VUU does an exceptional job crashing the offensive glass bringing down 175 offensive boards on the season. The Panthers are also the best passing squad in the CIAA as well with 203 assists and a 0.94 assist/turnover ratio on the season. While the Panthers only has one player in Robert Osborn that averages double-digits (11.8), VUU has four other players that average eight points or more. Raemaad Wright is the conference leader in the rebounding category with 111 rebounds while 18 blocks ranks him third.

 
 

Series History

The Trojans are currently losing the series 10-15 as the Panthers look to extend their three-game series win streak. The last matchup saw VUU take the victory 83-78 despite committing 26 turnovers in the contest.

 
 
A Win Would…

•  Give the Panthers their first conference loss

 

• Put an end to the VUU three-game series win streak

 

• Bring the Trojans conference record to .500 at 3-3

 

• Help the Trojans avoid dropping their home record back down to .500 at 3-3

 

No Fans, Spectators or Media

To maintain the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and officials, Virginia State Athletics will continue to monitor the conditions closely and adjust our spectator policy accordingly but as of now through January 22 there will be NO fans, spectators or media allowed at home men's and women's basketball games.