| Virginia State (4-6) vs. Winston Salem State (6-4) |
| Date |
Thursday, January 6, 2022 |
| Time |
7:30 p.m. |
| Live Stream |
Live Stream |
| Location |
Winston Salem, NC (Clarence E. Gaines center) |
| Social Media |
@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 |
The VSU men's basketball team prepares to build on the momentum they found last time out that snapped their six-game losing streak against Claflin 84-70. Coach Lonnie Blow Jr's squad currently leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio with a 0.93. Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald is currently fourth in the conference in points per game (16.8), fifth in field goal percentage (49%), second in free throw percentage (84%) and fifth in three-point field goals per game (2.2).
Last Time Out
- 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.
- . 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.
Scouting the Rams
The Rams are seeking their first conference victory after taking losses to Virginia Union and Lincoln University (Pa.).However, WSSU is 2-0 at home and went 5-2 in November. The Rams are one of the best defensive teams in the conference allowing just 62 points per game, which lands them in the second spot. Winston-Salem State currently leads the conference in opponent field goal percentage (38%). The Rams struggle offensively scoring just 66 points per game while shooting just 43% from the field and 33% from the three-point line. While WSSU's shooting woes continue, they commit the least amount turnovers in the conference per game (13).
Series History
The Trojans are currently winning the series 7-5 winning the last seven matchups between the two. The last matchup saw VSU take the victory 85-80 as the Trojans had five players finish in double figures.
A Win Would…
- Even their conference record at 2-2
- Extend series win streak to eight games
