BLUEFIELD, WV – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team prepares to take part in the second and final installment of their season series against Bluefield State after beating them 90-84 at home earlier this season on November 22. The Trojans will look to bounce back after suffering their second one possession loss this season against CIAA-South foe and Reigning CIAA Champions in Fayetteville State. The Trojans will travel to Bluefield, WV to take on the Big Blue of Bluefield State on Saturday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m.
Virginia State (5-3) at Bluefield State (3-6)
Series History
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams as the Trojans are undefeated against the Big Blue (3-0) in matchups dating back to 2016. VSU has only played in Ned E. Shott Gym once before as the took down BSU 86-55 in 2017.
Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team stands tall at 5-3 this season. Two of their three losses have been by just one possession and are 3-2 in their last five matchups. Last time out, the Trojans lost to Fayetteville State 63-60 after the Broncos hit a three-pointer that left just 1.1 second for the Trojans. The Trojans score 76.1 points per contest while giving up 68.9. They currently lead the CIAA and rank 12
th in the nation in assists per game (17.8) while also leading the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.06). VSU currently shoots 45.7% from the field and leads the conference in three-point percentage shooting 39.0%. They get to the free throw line 15.4 times per game and shoot 64.4%. They have forced 149 turnovers (3
rd in CIAA) on the season and average 19.3 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 5.5 in the rebounding category and have accounted for 70 steals this season. They also average 4.0 blocks per game (2
nd in CIAA). The Trojans currently have four players who average double figures and have three that rank within the top-25 in the CIAA in points per game.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield leads the team with 17.5 points per game (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 76.6% (7
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (1
st in CIAA, 3
rd in NCAA) with 25 steals averaging 3.1 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 5.5 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 33.0. Last time out, Hunter-Whitfield went 4-of-5 (80%) from beyond the arc (four three-pointers made in the first half) shooting 6-of-12 (50%) from the field while grabbing four rebounds with a steal in 32 minutes of play against Fayetteville State.
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald has shown his incredible versatility this season as he ranks second on the team in assists with 26 (T-4
th in CIAA) and second in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 1.6 (4
th in the CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season as 6.6 rebounds per game leads the team (7th in CIAA). Averaging 2.4 three-pointers made three-pointers per game (T-1
st in CIAA) so far this season, Fitzgerald accounts for 12.3 points per game (T-14
th in CIAA). He also ties for 9
th in the CIAA with four blocks. Last time out, Fitzgerald went 4-of-7 (57.1%) from downtown and shot 7-of-16 (50%) from the field en route to an 18-point, nine rebound performance against Fayetteville State.
The signal-caller for the Trojans in
Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 5.3 assists per game (T-11th in NCAA) while maintaining a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). He is consistent from the free throw line knocking down 85.7% of his shots. Newkirk has found recent heat from beyond the arc after hitting 3-of-6 (50%) three-pointers through his last three games while hitting 9-of-20 (45.0%) three-pointers this season and ties for 13
th in the CIAA with 1.1 made three-pointers per game. He averages 10.1 points per contest on a 43.5% field goal percentage and has accounted for eight steals this season (T-10
th in CIAA). Newkirk struggled from the field last time out going just 1-of-8 (12%) from the field while hitting 1-of-3 (33.3%) three-pointers. The true point guard still was able to affect the game with his passing accounting for a game-high seven assists.
Tremere Brown has been dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 11.1 points per game (19
th in CIAA) along with 3.9 rebounds a game and leads the team with 17 offensive rebounds. Brown is currently second in the CIAA with a 62.5% field goal percentage along with five blocks (T-8
th in CIAA) for the rim protector. Brown scored just six points against Fayetteville State after a promising start to the game scoring the first bucket for the Trojans. He grabbed four rebounds and got a steal.
Scouting the Big Blue
Bluefield State appears to be in a more positive position since their last meeting with the Trojans. Following the 90-84 loss to the Trojans earlier this season, the Big Blue went on a three-game winning streak defeating Cheyney (Pa.), UDC, and JCSU. They are 1-2 against CIAA opponents this season as they suffered a 82-79 loss to Shaw their last time out. They allow opponents to score 87.8 points while scoring 87.3. They allow opponents to shoot 47.8% from the field yet force opposing team to shoot just 31.0% from beyond the arc. They currently shoot 40.6% from the field, 33.3% from the three-point line and shoot at an efficient 76.8% clip form the free throw line. They are currently -9.3 in the rebounding margin but force 17.6 turnovers per game and score 17.6 points off those turnovers. They look to protect the ball more committing 14.1 turnovers per game but average 8.1 steals per contest. The Big Blue have four players who average double-figures led by Malik Tidwell who averages 18.2 points game. He shoots 34.9% from three-point range and leads the team in free throws made (45) and free throws attempted (49) which allows him to maintain a consistent 91.8% free throw percentage. Ohashi Hirotaka leads the team with 14 steals as the 5'7 point guard also leads the team with 38 assists. Palata Landry leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game and a ridiculous 31 blocks while averaging 13.4 points per game on 50.5% shooting from the field.
