ETTRICK, VA – Virginia State Men's Basketball's, Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald, was recognized by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association as the Food Lion's Week #7 Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Last week, Fitzgerald recorded a career-high 17 rebounds, including 11 defensive boards in the 74-68 road victory over Claflin which not only gave Claflin their first of the season, it also made the Trojans 3-0 in league play. The Danville, VA native also added 16 points, two steals, and two assists in his career day. 17 rebounds from the graduate student rank as the third-best rebounding performance of the season so far in the CIAA.
 
The utility guard currently leads all guards in the conference in rebounds per game (7.8), ranks 12th in the conference in points per game (12.5), ties for third in made three-pointers per game (2.1), ties for sixth in assists per game (2.9), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.1), 10th in blocks (6), ties for 11th in steals (14) and 11th in minutes played per game (29.0).
 
The Trojans Men's Basketball is just two days away from heading out to the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete in the YES! U.S. Virgin Islands Classic. They will face Edward Waters (Fla.) in the opening round on Saturday, December 31 at approximately 10:15 a.m. est.