BOWIE, MD – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team will do some soul searching before their next matchup against Bowie State after losing three of their last four games. The Trojans and Bulldogs will tip-off at 3:00 p.m. in A.C. Jordan Arena on Saturday, January 28. The game will be live on the CW Network.
Virginia State (13-7) (6-3 CIAA) vs. Bowie State (5-17, 3-7 CIAA)
Series History
The Trojans are 13-14 against the Bulldogs in matchups dating back to 2009. Virginia State has won six of the last seven matchups after sweeping them in the 2021-2022 season.
Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team is 13-7 (6-3 CIAA) this season as they remain second in the Northern Division behind Virginia Union. Last time out, the Trojans weren't able to figure it out against Lincoln (Pa.) losing 62-54 on the road. Virginia State scores 73.6 points per game while giving up 67.4. The squad still leads the CIAA in assists per contest (14.00) while maintaining an assist/turnover ratio a 0.84. VSU currently shoots 45.3% from the field and 36.1% (3
rd in CIAA). They get to the free throw line 16.5 times per game but look to shoot with more consistency maintaining a 65.0% free throw percentage. The squad allows teams to shoot just 40.4% from the field (2
nd in CIAA) and 30.5% (2
nd in CIAA) from beyond the arc. They have forced 330 turnovers on the season and average 15.8 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 6.1 (2
nd in CIAA) in the rebounding category and have accounted for 150 steals this season. They also average 3.5 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 18.1 (2
nd in CIAA) while shooting 70.3% (14
th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (2
nd n CIAA, T-8
th in NCAA) with 41 steals averaging 2.0 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game (16
th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 46.4% (4
th in CIAA). He knocks down 35.3% 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 37 assists this season (T-17
th in CIAA). Last time out,
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield was pretty cold scoring just 10 points on 5-of-12 (41.6%) from the field with four boards, an assist and two steals against Lincoln (Pa.).
Switchblade
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald continues to consistently stuff the stat sheet as he ranks second on the team in assists with 52 (10
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 7.8 rebounds per game leads the team (3
rd in CIAA). The sharpshooter also leads the team with 47 made three-pointers (2
nd in CIAA) which leads to 14.5 points per game (T-6
th in CIAA). He also ties for 10
th in the CIAA with eight blocks.
Fitzgerald is one point away from scoring his 1,000th point as a Trojan as well! Last time out, Fitzgerald scored 18 points off the bench shooting 5-of-11 (45%) from the field and 2-of-5 (40%) from deep. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished on assist, accounted for a block and came away with a pair of steals in a losing effort against Lincoln (Pa.).
The General
The signal-caller for the Trojans in
Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 4.2 assists per game while maintaining a 1.7 assist/turnover ratio (3
rd in CIAA). He is consistent from the free throw line knocking down 81.5% of his shots. Newkirk hits 23-of-58 (39.3%) three-pointers this season and is tied for 14
th in the conference with 24 made three-pointers. He averages 10.6 points per contest on a 41.4% field goal percentage. Last time out,
Zach Newkirk posted 10 points along with a pair of rebounds, a block and a steal in the contest against Lincoln (Pa.).
Paint Beast
Tremere Brown has been a dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 10.5 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds a game and leads the team with 40 offensive rebounds (9
th in CIAA). Brown leads the team with a 62.2% field goal percentage along with 12 blocks. (9
th in CIAA). Brown score six points and grabbed six rebounds with a block and a steal.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Bowie State currently ranks last in the Northern Division of the CIAA. After winning their first game, the Bulldogs went on a three-game skid and have had trouble finding their footing ever since. They enter the matchup on a three-game losing streak following an overtime loss to Elizabeth City State along with losses to Virginia Union and Shaw. The are currently -7.5 in the scoring margin while hitting 41.0% of their shots from the field and 32.6% of their shots from beyond the three-point arc. They get to the foul line just 13.4 time per game and hit 65.6% of their shots. They are -3.2 in the rebounding margin (T-CIAA Low) and are second behind Virginia State with 332 turnovers. On the bright side, the Bulldogs meet opponents at the rim averaging 3.91 blocks per contest. The squad is led by Mark Bradshaw (12.8 PPG) and the hometown hero in Quinton Drayton (12.0). Bradshaw lead the team from beyond the arc shooting 33-of-77 (42.9%) from beyond the arc and 68-of-144 (47.2%) from the field along with 12 steals. Drayton leads the team with 90 made field goals going 90-of-228 (39.5%) from the field while attempting the most three-pointers on the team going 32-of-85 (37.6%).
