LINCOLN, PA– The Virginia State Men's Basketball team hits the road to Lincoln, PA to take on the Lions of Lincoln (Pa.). The Trojans will look to earn their fifth road win of the season.
Virginia State (13-6) (6-2 CIAA) vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (9-11, 4-5 CIAA)
Series History
The Trojans are 20-7 against the Lions in matchups dating back to 2007. Virginia State was swept by Lincoln (Pa.) last season but the Trojans won 13 straight matchups prior to the 2021-2022 season. The Trojans are 8-5 playing on the road in Lincoln (Pa.).
Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team is 13-6 (6-2 CIAA) this season which drops them down to second in the Northern Division behind Virginia Union. Last time out, the Trojans earned a victory against Elizabeth City State on Saint Paul's Day 64-57. Virginia State scores 74.7 points per game while giving up 68.6. The squad still leads the CIAA in assists per contest (13.85). The Trojans maintain an assist/turnover ratio a 0.85 (3
rd in CIAA). VSU currently shoots 45.8% from the field and 37.3% (2
nd in CIAA). They get to the free throw line 16.0 times per game but look to shoot with more consistency maintaining a 64.8% free throw percentage. The squad allows teams to shoot just 41.3% from the field (3
rd in CIAA) and 31.3% from beyond the arc. They have forced 315 turnovers on the season and average 16.0 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 6.4 (2
nd in CIAA) in the rebounding category and have accounted for 141 steals this season. They also average 3.25 blocks per game (3
rd in CIAA). The Trojans currently have four players who average double figures.
Bucket Getter
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield ranks second in the CIAA in points per game averaging 18.5 (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 70.3% (11
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (2
nd n CIAA, T-8
th in NCAA) with 39 steals averaging 2.1 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game (17
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 45.6% (5
th in CIAA). He knocks down 37.0% of his shots from downtown and is second on the team with 30 three-pointers made (8
th in CIAA). He is third on the team with 36 assists this season (T-17
th in CIAA). Last time out,
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield scored 16 points on 3-of-6 (50%) shooting from downtown and 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line while grabbing five boards against ECSU.
Switchblade
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald continues to consistently stuff the stat sheet as he ranks second on the team in assists with 51 (9
th in CIAA). Fitzgerald has been committed to crashing the boards this season despite spending most of his time beyond the three-point arc as 7.9 rebounds per game leads the team (3
rd in CIAA). The sharpshooter also leads the team with 45 made three-pointers (1
st in CIAA) which leads to 14.3 points per game (7
th in CIAA). He also ties for 11
th in the CIAA with eight blocks.
Signal Caller
The signal-caller for the Trojans in
Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 4.1 assists per game while maintaining a 1.6 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). He is consistent from the free throw line knocking down 82.8% of his shots. Newkirk has been a consistent force from behind the arc hitting 23-of-58 (39.7%) three-pointers this season and ninth with 23 made three-pointers. He averages 10.6 points per contest on a 41.9% field goal percentage. Last time out,
for the third time in his career, Zach Newkirk scored 20 points shooting 13-of-16 (81.2%) from the foul line. Newkirk grabbed four rebounds and dished a team-high three assists with a block and a steal in the contest in the win against ECSU.
Paint Beast
Tremere Brown has been a dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 10.7 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds a game and leads the team with 39 offensive rebounds. Brown leads the team with a 63.2% field goal percentage along with 11 blocks. (8
th in CIAA).
Tremere Brown grabbed a season-high nine rebounds (five offensive) along with nine points on 3-of-6 (50%) shooting from the field which included a ferocious and-one dunk.
Scouting the Lions
Lincoln (Pa.) currently rank fourth in the Northern Division of the CIAA. They are 6-4 at home this season. Teams have had a rough go advancing the ball up the court the Lions the conference with 376 turnovers with a 4.75 turnover margin and score 20.4 points off of turnovers. The team shoots 43.1% from the field while allowing teams to shoot 42.0%. They struggle from the three-point line shooting just 32.3% from the three-point line while allowing opponents to shoot 32.5%. The team shoots 16 free throws per contest while hitting 68.8% from the free throw line. They are currently -3.7 in the rebounding category. Korey Williams will be the man the stop for the Lions as he ranks third in the conference with 16.6 points per contest. He ties for third in the conference with 42 made three pointers as he is 42-of-100 (42%) from beyond the arc. He leads the conference in free throw percentage maintaining an 82.4%. Williams ranks sixth in the conference in field goal percentage with a 45.5%. He also ranks second in the conference with 35 steals.
