Box Score ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State men's basketball team struggled defensively in the loss to Salem, 91-81. The Trojans allowed the Tigers to shoot 54% from the field, 61% from beyond the arc and 89% from the free throw line. Despite the loss, VSU was able to outrebound the Tigers 31-26. The Trojans also saw great production from their bench, as they were able to 17 points and only allowed the home team 14 points in the paint.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield (24) and
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald (22) combined for 46 points in the contest. Hunter-Whitfield grabbed six boards and went 5-of-8 from three-point range while Fitzgerald grabbed six rebounds as well and finished 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 8-of-12 from the field.
Michael Melvin added nine points and five assists along with three steals in the contest.
D'Angelo Lake led the game in rebounds with seven. The Trojans went 9-of-9 in free throws in the first half while grabbing 11 offensive rebounds and turned them into 17 second chance points. The contest saw 11 ties as well as 11 lead changes.
How It Happened
- At the start of the game, the Trojans was able to contest the Tigers shots effectively going up, 12-5, with 15:07 left in the first half.
- The Tigers were able to get hot from beyond on the arc hitting three in a row to tie the game at 14. Fitzgerald and Dajour Rucker answered back with back-to-back three-pointers to put the Trojans up by six. The two teams would continue to battle it out as the Trojans held a, 24-19, lead with 9:36 left to go in the first half.
- The next five minutes would see two ties and three lead changes as the Tigers gained the lead, 31-29, with 4:59 left in the first half.
- The game saw yet another tie at 33 all with 3:06 left in the half. The largest Tiger lead in the last five minutes was just four points, as the Trojans were able to hold on to a slim, 42-41 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
- In one half of play, both squads shot over 50% from the field and from three-point range in the first half. The only difference in the game was that the Trojans were 9-of-9 from the free throw line while Salem went 4-of-5.
- Terrence Hunter-Whitfield came out of the half flaming scoring the first eight points of the half for the Trojans helping the squad hold a two-point lead at, 50-48, with 15:56 left in the contest.
- At 14:14, the game was knotted up 50 prior to the Trojans going up by two possessions. The game saw another tie at 60 with 10:13 left to go as Fitzgerald contributed five points.
- The Tigers were able to mount the largest scoring run of the game scoring eight unanswered points the go up 68-61. After four-straight points from Hunter-Whitfield, the Trojans were within two at, 69-67. The Tigers would go on a crucial 9-0 run to go up, 81-70, with 5:08 left to go in the game.
- In the final five minutes the Tigers would stay heated as a three-ball had them up by as many as 15. The Trojans would fight to cut the lead down but time was not on their side which inevitably would lead to the squad losing, 91-81.
Inside the Box Score
- The contest saw 11 ties and 11 lead changes
- The best scoring run of the game belonged to Salem as they were able to score nine unanswered points which was a key turning point for the home team
- The Trojans first half success equated to the squad going 5-of-10 from the three point line and 9-of-9 from the free throw line
Up Next
The Trojans will hit the road to Shaw University Thursday, February 10 for a doubleheader. Tip off is set for 8:00 p.m.
