WINSTON SALEM, NC. – Virginia State men's basketball team lost an overtime thriller late Thursday evening 90-88 against Winston-Salem State. The Trojans have lost an abundance of players due to injury in recent weeks but still look to get back on track despite the lack of depth.
 
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield recorded the first 30-point double-double in recent history with 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field along with 11 rebounds. Hunter-Whitfield went 5-of-9 from downtown while knocking down 8-of-10 free throws. Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald scored 20 points while shooting 50% from the field along with a season-high 11 rebounds and three blocks. Michael Melvin scored 19 points with six rebounds and six assists. Virginia State forced 15 turnovers which turned into 19 points on the offensive end. VSU was also able to grab 14 offensive boards which led to 17 second chance points. The Trojans drew 31 fouls and shot 42 free throws in the evening contest.
 
How It Happened

• Michael Melvin got himself going early scoring the first five of the Trojans eight points to start the game. The scored was tied at eight with 15:18 left to go in the first half.

 

• Despite Fitzgerald's five-point contribution, the Rams would stretch their lead to seven points with the score at 21-14 with 10:17 left in the first half.

 

• While WSSU scored six unanswered to gain the first double-digit lead of the game, Virginia State would score nine points straight behind three-pointers from Kylon Lewis and Michael Melvin to bring the Rams lead to just one at 27-26 with 4:40 left to go in the half.

 

• The Rams capitalized on a couple of the Trojans turnovers late in the half which helped WSSU take a 39-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.

 
 

• Michael Melvin led the team with 10 points and two assists while Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald scored nine points with a team-high four rebounds. The Trojans drew 11 fouls, which led to 15 free throws. VSU forced seven turnovers and hit four three-pointers in the first half.

 
 

• Caleb Butts and Fitzgerald combined for eight points out of the halftime break, which allowed them to help the Trojans keep it close at 50-41 with 15:04 left in the second half.

 

• Fitzgerald would go on to score seven straight points to cut the lead down to six points at 56-50 with just under 10 minutes to go in the game.

 

• The Terrence Hunter-Whitfield show would commence as he was able to match Fitzgerald's seven straight points with seven of his own hitting back-to-back three-pointers to make the score 60-59 in favor of the Rams with 4:41 left in the game.

 

• Hunter-Whitefield would score six more unanswered points to give the Trojans the lead 65-63 with 3:22 left in the second half. 

 

• While Melvin was able to score four unanswered points of his own, the Rams were able to keep the game close at 70-67 with :9 to go in the game thanks to a few key defensive stop by WSSU.

 

• On the last possession of the game, the Rams missed the game tying three ball but were able to get the offensive rebound and hit a three-pointer as time expired to force overtime with the score knotted at 70.

 

• After Hunter-Whitfield gave the Trojans the first lead of overtime, the Rams scored seven unanswered points to give them a seven point lead 79-72 with 2:55 left in the first overtime period.

 

• After Michael Melvin sunk two free throws the WSSU lead was cut to just three with :20 let in the game with the score at 88-85.

 

• Down two possessions, Terrence Hunter-Whitfield came down and hit a huge three-pointer to cut the lead to 89-88 with :7 left in the game.

 

• After the Rams split their free throws the Trojans got the ball with :4 left to go in the game but failed to hit the game winning three-pointer which allowed WSSU to take the win in overtime 90-88.

 
 
Inside the Box Score

• Terrence-Hunter Whitfield scored 27 points in the second half and overtime

 

• Virginia State knocked down 10-11 free throws in overtime

 

• VSU shot a season-high 42 free throws in the contest

 

• The Trojans grabbed a season-high 30 defensive rebounds

 

• Virginia State held WSSU to 18% from beyond the arc in the contest

 

• After being outscored 39-31 in the first half, the Trojans outscored the Rams by the identical margin in the second half

 
 
Up Next
 Virginia State will be right back in North Carolina to take on Livingstone College in a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m on Saturday, January 8.