ETTRICK, VA – A late go-ahead three-pointer prevented the VSU Men's Basketball team from getting their revenge on the Broncos of Fayetteville State as they fell 63-60 late Wednesday night.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald (18 points) and Terrence Hunter-Whitfield (16 points) combined for 34 points in the contest. Hunter-Whitfield hit four three pointers in the first half which allowed him to finish 4-of-5 (80%) from beyond the three-point line. He shot 6-of-12 (50%) from the field and grabbed four rebounds and added a steal in the contest. Fitzgerald nearly posted his third double-double of the season after securing a game-high nine rebounds while shooting 4-of-7 (57%) from beyond the arc and 7-of-16 (50%) from the field. Stephon Roberts scored a season-high seven points off the bench on 5-of-6 (83%) shooting from the free throw line to go along with three rebounds with a block and a steal. Tremere Brown and Dajour Rucker each scored six points in the contest. Brown ripped down four rebounds and accounted for a steal while Rucker shot 2-of-4 (50%) from the field and accounted for a team-high two steals. Zach Newkirk dished a game-high seven assists while scoring three points along with four rebounds in the game.
The Trojans did a solid job rebounding the ball after winning the battle 32-29. The Trojans forced 13 turnovers which led to eight steals. They also did a great job protecting the rim accounting for four blocks. The Trojans scored 23 points in transition but shot 57.9% from the free throw line. The squad shot 37.0% from the field after unfortunately shooting 29.0% from the field in the second half. They shot a astonishing 47.4% from beyond the arc after going 5-of-8 (62.5%) in the first half.
How It Happened
- The game started as a back-and-fourth affair until Terrence Hunter-Whitfield scored eight straight points leading an 8-2 run to make the score 12-7 with 14:03 left in the first half.
- Terrence Hunter-Whitfield hit two more three-pointers to extend the VSU lead to 10 points. The Broncos would then score four straight points to decrease the VSU lead to 22-16 with 10:40 left in the first half.
- The two teams would continue to trade baskets throughout the remainder of the half which allowed the Trojans to take a 34-30 lead in the first half.
- Early in the second half, the Broncos were able to start with a three-pointer to go down by just three points. They would go on to mount a clutch 6-1 run which allowed them to take the lead 39-37 with 15:52 left in the second half.
- After a bucket by Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald, the Broncos went on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 45-39. Fitzgerald took it upon himself to bring the Trojans back after scoring five straight points to decrease the deficit to 47-46 with 9:59 left in the contest.
- The game came to a tie at 55 with 3:40 left after Fitzgerald hit a huge three-pointer. Fitzgerald then went on to hit another pivotal three-pointer to put the Trojans up 60-59 with :06 left in the contest.
- The Broncos then came down and hit a go-ahead three-pointer to put them ahead 62-60 with 1.1 left to go in the game. The Broncos would go on to escape with the victory 63-60.
Up Next
The Trojans will have to have a short memory as they prepare for a road trip to Bluefield, WV to face Bluefield State on Saturday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m.
