ETTRICK, VA – Virginia State men's basketball holds off Bluefield State 90-84 to earn their third win of the season. The squad had their way the Big Blue offensively shooting 48% from the field while shooting a season-high 44% from downtown. They also took better care of the ball in the contest ending with a season-low 14 turnovers. The 90 points the Trojans accumulated was indeed a season-high as well. Defensively, VSU crashed the boards harder than BSU outrebounding them 44-34 which is also a season-high. The squad accounted for eight steals and a season-high six blocks in the contest.
 
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield clearly woke up feeling dangerous after posting the teams first double-double of the season after a season-high 23 points on 8-of-16 (50%) shooting along with 13 rebounds and five assists. He went 7-of-7 from the free throw line and accounted for three steals in the win. Hunter-Whitfield led five double-digit scorers for the Trojans. Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald neared a triple-double as well accounting for 10 points on 5-of-12 (42%) shooting from the field along with 10 rebounds and five dimes. Tremere Brown neared his first 20-point game as a Trojan accounting for 18 points with four rebounds on 8-of-11 (73%) shooting from the field as he was essentially unguardable in the paint. Zach Newkirk controlled the pace yet again as the point guard ended with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field along with a season-high four made three-pointers on five attempts. Newkirk also led the game with eight assists in the contest along with four boards. Stephan Morris accounted for his third double-digit scoring game as he added 10 points along with four rebounds.
 
 
How It Happened
 

• The game started as a back-and-fourth affair as the largest point differential was a five-point lead. The Trojans led 22-17 with 14:12 left in the first half.  

 

• After Stephon Roberts put a powerful dunk through the basket, the were able to extend their lead to 28-21 with 10:33 left in the first half.

 

• The Trojans were able to go up by nine points after mounting an 8-2 run. Terrence Hunter-Whitfield went on to contribute four straight points in the 10-2 run to go up 37-26 with 6:40 left in the first half.

 

• The Big Blue would cut into the lead with a 7-2 run late in the first half. Bluefield State was able to cut the Trojans down to just two points at 45-43 with 2:10 left in the half. The Trojans took a 47-45 lead into the halftime break.  

 

• Much like the first half, the second half started with the two teams traded baskets which led to the Trojans gaining a five-point lead at 59-54 with 14:21 left in the second half following a mid-range jumper by Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald.

 

• Bluefield State mounted a 9-3 run to cut the VSU lead down to just one at 66-65 with 10:01 left in the game.

 

• Zach Newkirk allowed the Trojans to take a five-point lead after hitting two straight three-pointers. Despite the individual effort by Newkirk, the Big Blue would manage to tie the game at 77 with 5:11 left to go in the game.

 

• The two teams tied against at 81 until Zach Newkirk hit a clutch three-pointer to put the Trojans up by four with :46 left in the game. The Trojans would go on to hold on to the lead to take the game 90-84

 
 
 
Up Next
The Trojans will get to enjoy Thanksgiving and will return to play Saturday and Sunday November 26 and 27 for the VSU Men's Basketball Thanksgiving Classic.