ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team has nothing but revenge their minds heading into the midweek matchups against the defending CIAA Men's Basketball Champions in Fayetteville State. VSU fell to FSU 72-60 in the quarterfinals of the 2021 CIAA Basketball Tournament before the top-seeded Broncos went on a championship run. In addition to the matchup being televised live on "HBCUGO", it will also be VSU Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night which allows faculty and staff as well as their families to be granted access into the game free of charge. There will be multiple opportunities to win prizes during game breaks during the Wednesday night game. Tip-Off is set for 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 inside the VSU Multipurpose center.
Virginia State (5-2) vs. Fayetteville State (3-6)
Series History
This will be the 109
th meeting between the two teams as the Trojans lead 58-50 in matchups dating back to 1988. VSU boasts an 11-8 record at home as the two are tied at five apiece in their last five matchups. The Broncos have one four of the last five as the most recent Trojan victory came in 2020 after the Trojans won 68-62.
Self Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team stands tall at 5-2 this season. The squad lost their two matchups by a total of just 10 points. Last time out, the Trojans earned a win against their CIAA-South opponent in St. Augustine's 70-59 thanks to a strong second half. The Trojans score 78.4 points per contest while giving up 69.7. They currently lead the CIAA and rank 11
th in the nation in assists per game (18.6) while also leading in assist/turnover ratio (1.07). VSU currently shoots 46.8% from the field (third in CIAA) and leads the conference in three-point percentage shooting 37.4%. They get to the free throw line 16 times per game and shoot 65.1%. They have forced 136 turnovers (3
rd in CIAA) on the season and average 20.1 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 5.9 in the rebounding category and account for 8.9 steals per contest. They also average 4.0 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-Whitefield leads the team with 17.7 points per game (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 76.6% (8
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (1
st in CIAA) with 24 steals while ranking second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per game (8
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 46.5% (6
th in CIAA). He knocks down 29.6% of his shots from downtown. Hunter-Whitfield's off-season conditioning is paying off this season as he ranks second in the CIAA in minutes played per game with 33.1.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald has shown his versatility consistently this season as he is second on the team in assists with 26 ( 3rd in CIAA) and second in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 1.7 (4
th in the CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season as 6.3 rebounds per game leads the team (7th in CIAA). Averaging 2.1 three-pointers made (5
th in CIAA) so far this season, Fitzgerald accounts for 11.4 points per game (20
th in CIAA). He also for 9
th in the CIAA with four blocks.
The signal-caller for the Trojans in Zack Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 5.0 assists per game (tied for 15th in NCAA) while maintaining a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). He knocks down 85.7% of his shots from the free throw line (3
rd in CIAA). Newkirk has found recent heat from beyond the arc after hitting 3-of-6 three-pointers through the last three games while hitting 8-of-17 (47.1%) three-pointers this season and ties for 13
th in the CIAA with 1.1 made three-pointers per game. He averages 11.1 points per contest (24
th in CIAA) on a 48.1% field goal percentage and has accounted for eight steals this season (9
th in CIAA).
Tremere Brown has been dominating the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 11.9 points per game (13
th in CIAA) along with 3.9 rebounds a game and leads the team with 15 offensive rebounds. Brown currently leads the CIAA with a 64.4% field goal percentage along with five blocks (Ties for 8
th in CIAA) for the rim protector.
Scouting the Broncos
The Fayetteville State men's basketball team has had a rough go of things early this season following their CIAA Championship run last season. They currently rank fourth in the Southern Division of the CIAA. The Broncos enter play on a two-game winning streak following wins over Methodist and USC-Aiken which ended a five-game losing streak. The Trojans and the Broncos share a loss to #8 UNC-Pembroke after being defeated 68-58. The Broncos are -0.2 in the scoring margin averaging 62.9 points per game while allowing 63.1 (3
rd in CIAA). They shoot 38.9% (CIAA-low) from the field, 34.4% (3
rd in CIAA) from three-point range and 62.5% from the foul line while shooting just 9.4 free throws per contest. FSU leads the CIAA in three-pointers made per game with 8.3. They average a CIAA-low 8.4 assists per contest but only allow opponents just 7.1 assist per contest. FSU is -0.3 in rebounding margin averaging 33.7 per contest. They average 6.0 steals per contest and force 12.3 turnovers per game. Senior Cress Worthy leads the team with 14.0 points per game (7
th in CIAA) and ranks seventh in the CIAA maintaining a 34.6 field goal percentage. He ranks second on the team in three-pointers made with 16 (5th in CIAA) and rebounds with 45. Worthy leads the team in steals with 10 and assists with 25 which also ties for fifth in the CIAA. He currently leads the conference in minutes per game (36.6).
