ORANGEBURG, SC – The Northern Division leaders in Virginia State prepare for their biggest test so far as they look to hand Claflin their first loss of the season as the Southern Division leaders stand tall at 9-0. That being said the Panthers have flirted with defeat lately winning two of their last three games by just two points. The CIAA marquee matchup is set for Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Orangeburg, SC.
Virginia State (8-3, 2-0) at Claflin (9-0, 2-0)
Series History
This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams as the Trojans are currently undefeated against the Panthers boasting a 5-0 record in matchups dating back to 2019. VSU ended the Panthers season in the Opening Round of the CIAA Tournament a season ago 71-58. The Trojans average 80.2 points per game against the Panthers while CU averages just 69.2
Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team is 8-3 (2-0 CIAA) this season which makes them the new leaders of the CIAA Northern Division. Two of their three losses this season have been by way of a last second three-pointer. Last time out, the Trojans were able to end the Broncos win-streak after taking them down 65-54 to extend their win-streak to three games. Virginia State scores 75.5 points per game while giving up 66.1. The squad still leads the CIAA in assists per contest (16.27). The Trojans also lead the CIAA in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 0.95. VSU currently shoots 47.0% from the field (3
rd in CIAA) and leads the conference in three-point percentage shooting 38.4%. They get to the free throw line 15.2 times per game but look to shoot with more consistency maintaining a 65.5% free throw percentage. The squad allows teams to shoot just 39.7% from the field (2
nd in CIAA) and 28.9% from beyond the arc (2
nd in CIAA). They have forced 188 turnovers on the season and average 17.2 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 6.2 (2
nd in CIAA) in the rebounding category and have accounted for 89 steals this season. They also average 4.09 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 is now the conference leader in points per game averaging 17.6 (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 78.1% (T-5
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (1
st in CIAA, T-6
th in NCAA) with 30 steals averaging 2.7 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game (T-13
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 49.2% (4
th in CIAA). He knocks down 34.1% of his shots from downtown and ranks second on the team with 14 three-pointers made (12
th in CIAA). He is third on the team with 23 assists this season (11
th in CIAA). Last time out, Hunter-Whitfield went 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the field which led to a team-high 18 points while grabbing four rebounds along with two steals shooting 2-of-5 (40%) from downtown in the win against Fayetteville State.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald has shown his incredible versatility this season as he ranks second on the team in assists with 32 (T-6
th in CIAA) and second in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 1.4 (T-4
th in he CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season as 7.3 rebounds per game leads the team (5
th in CIAA). He also leads the team with 22 made three-pointers averaging 2.2 per game (3
rd in CIAA) which leads to 12.3 points per game (T-12th in CIAA). He also ties for 10
th in the CIAA with six blocks. Last time out, Fitzgerald scored 13 points on 5-of-12 (41.6%) shooting from the field along with six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
The signal-caller for the Trojans in
Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 4.9 assists per game (T-14
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 84.4% of his shots. Newkirk has been a consistent force from behind the arc hitting 12-of-27 (44.4%) three-pointers this season and ties for 12
th in the CIAA with 1.2 made three-pointers per game. He averages 11.0 points per contest (T-18
th in CIAA) on a 47.1% field goal percentage. Newkirk accounted for 12 points on 4-of-9 (44.4%) shooting from the field with two rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal.
Tremere Brown has been a dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 11.3 points per game (T-17
th in CIAA) along with 4.3 rebounds a game and leads the team with 23 offensive rebounds. Brown leads the team with a 60.9% field goal percentage along with six blocks. (T-10
th in CIAA) Brown scored 10 points on 4-of-8 (50%) in the win over Fayetteville State along with four rebounds.
Scouting the Panthers
The Claflin men's basketball team is off to one of their greatest starts in program history starting the season 9-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play which places them atop of the CIAA South. The squad averages 82.9 points per game (2
nd in CIAA) while giving up 69.3 which places them in first place in the conference with a 13.6 scoring margin. They lead the conference in in field goal percentage maintaining a 49.3% yet allow opponents to shoot 42.7%. While they shoot just 32.8% from beyond the arc they rank third in the conference in made three-pointers per game with 6.6. They also lead the conference in opponents three-point percentage forcing opponents to shoot just 28.7%. They shoot 16.1 free throws per game but knock down just 67.8% of them. They are plus three in the rebounding margin averaging 37.6 rebounds per contest (3
rd in CIAA). The Panther force 16.9 turnovers per game while committing just 14.2. The squad is led by Bryson Dennis who averages 15.9 points per contest (4
th in CIAA) shooting 53% from the field. Dennis sinks 40% of his shots from three-point range and leads his squad in made free throws going 27-of-36 (75%). He also ties for first on the team with 25 assists to this point in the season.
