ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team prepares for their first CIAA action of the season hosting St. Augustine's in a non-conference matchup on Friday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m. inside the VSU Multipurpose center.
Series History
This will be the 18
th meeting between the two teams as the Trojans look to improve on their 8-9 record against the Falcons in matchups dating back to 2009. The Falcons won the first six matchups but more recently the Trojans won five straight before losing the most recent matchup in 2021, 68-59 back in 2021.
Self Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team stands tall at 4-2 this season. The squad lost their two matchups by a total of just 10 points. The Trojans return after a tough loss to #9 UNC – Pembroke on a last-second go-ahead three-pointer that left the Trojans with just 1.1 second left in the ball game. The Braves went on to earn the victory 61-58. The Trojans score 80 points per contest while giving up 72. They currently lead the CIAA in assists (19 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (1.12). VSU currently shoots 48% from the field and 29% from three-point range. They get to the free throw line 17 times per game but shoot just 64%. They have forced 122 turnovers on the season and 21 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 4.8 in the rebounding category and account for 9.3 steals per contest. They also average 4.0 blocks per game. The Trojans have four players who average double figures to start the season.
Terrence Hunter-Whitefield leads the team with 17.7 points per game (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 78.6% (7
th in CIAA) percent from the free throw line. He also leads the team (1
st in CIAA) with 22 steals while leading the team with 5.7 rebounds per game (11
th in CIAA). He looks to improve his efficiency from downtown as he currently shoots 28.0%.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald has shown his versatility early this season as he is second on the team in assists with 24 (Tied for 5
th in CIAA) and second in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 1.7 (Tied for 4
th in the CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season as 5.3 rebounds per game ranks him second on the team (15
th in CIAA). Averaging 1.8 three-pointers made (8
th in CIAA) so far this season, Fitzgerald accounts for 10.2 points per game.
Now in the starting lineup, Tremere Bown has settled in with Trojans nicely averaging 12.8 points per game (10
th in CIAA) along with 3.7 rebounds a game. Brown currently leads the CIAA with a 67.3% field goal percentage along with four blocks (Ties for 8
th in CIAA) for the rim protector.
The signal-caller for the Trojans in Zack Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging (5.5) assists per game. He knocks down 83% of his shots from the free throw line (5
th in CIAA) and maintains a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). Newkirk has found recent heat from beyond the arc after hitting 5-of-9 three-pointers through the last three games while hitting 6-of-15 three-pointers this season. He averages 11.2 points per contest (21
st in CIAA) on a 47.9% field goal percentage and has accounted for six steals this season.
Scouting the Falcons
The St. Augustine's men's basketball team is desperately looking to find their footing this season as they attempt to improve upon their 2-4 record. They are currently on a four-game losing streak as the last time the Falcons were victories was on November 18 when they beat UMO 80-77. The Trojans and Falcons do however share a loss to #9 UNC-Pembroke after SAU was defeated by the Braves 72-58. The Falcons are -7.5 in the scoring margin averaging 65.5 points per game while allowing 73. They shoot 42.6% from the field, 29.0% from three-point range and 62.3% from the foul line while shooting just 11.8 free throws per contest. They allow their opponents to get to the line 19.8 times per games. SAU averages 33.8 rebounds per game with 9.8 assists per game. They allow opponents 4.3 blocks per contest while only averaging 2.5 themselves. They are however, plus 1.7 in the turnover category committing just 14.5 per game while forcing 16.2. Freshman Nemo Johnson leads the team with 11.5 points per game and ranks second in the CIAA behind
Tremere Brown maintaining a 61.2 field goal percentage. He also leads the Falcons in rebounds averaging 6.7 per game which puts him 8
th in the conference. Johnson has acquired a team-high eight steals so far this season.
