RALEIGH, NC – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team prepares to take part in the second and final installment of their regular season series against St. Augustine's after beating them 70-59 at home earlier this season on December 2. The Trojans will attempt to find some consistency as they are 2-2 in their last four matchups after coming off a huge win against Bluefield State 87-67 which completed their season sweep against the Big Blue. The Trojans will begin their Carolina tour with a stop in Raleigh, NC as they look to notch their first conference win against St. Augustine's on Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Virginia State (6-3) at St. Augustine's (3-6)
Series History
This will be the 19
th meeting between the two teams as the series is tied at 9-9 in matchups dating back to 2009. VSU has won six of the last seven matchups and are currently 4-3 in Emery gym.
Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team stands tall at 6-3 this season. Two of their three losses this season have been by way of a last second three-pointer. Last time out, the Trojans took it to the Big Blue of Bluefield State beating them 87-67. The Trojans score 77.3 points per contest while giving up 68.7. They currently lead the CIAA and tie for 10
th in the nation in assists per game (17.67) and tie for the lead in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (0.99). VSU currently shoots 46.9% from the field and leads the conference in three-point percentage shooting 40%. They get to the free throw line 14.7 times per game and shoot 64.4%. The squad allows teams to shoot just 40.6% from the field (3
rd in CIAA) and 30.3% from beyond the arc (2
nd in CIAA). They have forced 162 turnovers (3
rd in CIAA) on the season and average 18.4 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 7.4 (2
nd in CIAA) in the rebounding category and have accounted for 75 steals this season. They also average 4.2 blocks per game (2
nd in CIAA). The Trojans currently have four players who average double figures and rank within the top-25 in the CIAA in points per game.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield leads the team with 17.8 points per game (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 79.2% (6
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (1
st in CIAA, 6
th in NCAA) with 25 steals averaging 2.8 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 5.6 rebounds per game (T-11
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 46.9% (7
th in CIAA). He knocks down 37.5% of his shots from downtown and ranks second on the team with 12 three-pointers made (T-10
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield's off-season conditioning is paying off this season as he ranks second in the CIAA in minutes played per game with 32.7. Last time out, Hunter-Whitfield went 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the field and 6-of-6 (100%) from the foul line while grabbing six rebounds with four assists in 30 minutes of play against Bluefield State.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald has shown his incredible versatility this season as he ranks second on the team in assists with 27 (7
th in CIAA) and second in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 1.5 (T-5
th in the CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season as 7.0 rebounds per game leads the team (6
th in CIAA). Averaging 2.3 three-pointers made three-pointers per game (2
nd in CIAA) so far this season, Fitzgerald accounts for 12.0 points per game (14
th in CIAA). He also ties for 9
th in the CIAA with six blocks. Last time out, Fitzgerald recorded his third double-double of the season in his stat sheet stuffing performance. He accounted for 10 points shooting 4-of-7 (57.1%) from the field and 2-of-4 (50%) from beyond the arc along with 10 rebounds with a season-high two blocks and three steals.
The signal-caller for the Trojans in
Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 5.1 assists per game (T-13
th in NCAA) while maintaining a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). He is consistent from the free throw line knocking down 84.0% of his shots. Newkirk has found recent heat from beyond the arc after hitting 6-of-9 (66.7%) three-pointers through his last three games while hitting 12-of-24 (50.0%) three-pointers this season and ties for 11
th in the CIAA with 1.3 made three-pointers per game. He averages 11.2 points per contest on a 47.9% field goal percentage. Newkirk was incredibly efficiently his last time out scoring 20 points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from the three-point line along with four assists.
Tremere Brown has been a dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 11.4 points per game (T-17
th in CIAA) along with 4.2 rebounds a game and leads the team with 20 offensive rebounds. Brown is currently second in the CIAA with a 62.7% field goal percentage along with five blocks (T-10
th in CIAA) for the rim protector. Brown scored 14 points against Bluefield State on 7-of-11 (63.6%) with a season-high seven rebounds.
Scouting the Falcons
The St. Augustine's men's basketball team is looking to right the ship after losing six of their last seven games. That being said, they coming off of a victory against Allen (SC) 67-63. The Falcons lost to the Trojans earlier this month, 70-59. The Trojans and Falcons do however share a loss to #9 UNC-Pembroke after SAU was defeated by the Braves 72-58. SAU is currently minus 7.6 in the scoring margin. They shoot 42.0% from the field, 32.1% from three-point range and 59.8% from the foul line while shooting just 10.9 free throws per contest. SAU averages 34.8 rebounds per game with 9.8 assists per game. They allow opponents 4.1 blocks per contest while averaging 2.8 themselves. They are however, plus 1.0 in the turnover category committing just 15.1 per game while forcing 16.1. Christopher Hill leads the team with 10.3 points per game while also leading the team with 12 steals. Hill currently shoots 50% from the field and 91.7% from the free throw line. Freshman Nemo Johnson leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game and leads the team with nine blocks (6
th in CIAA). Johnson shoots 62.5% from the field and has accounted for nine steals as well .
