ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State Men's Basketball team earned their first win in the new year after taking down Winston-Salem State 66-52. The Trojans did their damage from beyond the arc shooting 10-of-20 (50%). The squad is now 4-0 in conference play and is atop the CIAA standings. 
 
At the Half
The Trojans came out of the gate on fire mounting a 20-4 lead led by nine points from Terrence Hunter-Whitfield with just 12:34 left. The Rams would fight back with an 8-2 run which cut the lead down to 14 with 3:42 left. The Rams would end the half with a 9-2 run that nearly cut the Trojans lead to single digits at 33-22. The Rams were held to 17-of-49 (34.7%) from the field and 3-of-10 (30%) from beyond the arc. The Trojans shot 13-of-29 (44.8%) from the field and 5-of-11 (45.4%) from three-point range. The Trojans however struggled from the foul line shooting 2-of-5 (40%) while the Rams went a perfect 8-of-8 (100%).
 
Post Game
In the second half, the Trojans lead got up to as much as 24 points with 10:24 left in the contest. The Rams tried their best to mount a comeback going on a 17-5 run to cut the lead to just 57-44 with 4:31 left in the contest. The two would trade baskets through the final five minutes of the contest but in the end the Trojans were able to earn their fourth conference victory 66-52. VSU was better from the foul line in the second half shooting 8-of-10 (80%) while knocking down 5-of-9 (55.6%) of their shots from three-point range. The Trojans outrebounded the Rams 32-18 and shot a near season-high 10-of-20 (50%) from downtown. Seven offensive rebounds led to 14 second chance points. The Trojans were able to get high percentage looks the entirety of the game shooting 23-of-51 (45.1%) from the field while holding the Rams to 17-of-49 (34.7%). Thanks to a strong second half from the foul line, the Trojans shot 10-of-16 (66.72%) from the field while the Rams shot 15-of-21 71.4%.

Stat Leaders
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield continued his season trend of being the top scorer in the game as he finished with 24 points on 4-of-5 (80%) shooting from downtown and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the field. He grabbed four rebounds and came up with three steals and an assist while shooting 6-of-7 (85.7%) form the free throw line. His four made three-pointers tied his season high. Zach Newkirk made it rain from three-point range as well shooting 3-of-5 (60%) from beyond the arc which led to 15 points. Newkirk shot 5-of-10 (50%) from the field and accounted for a pair of rebounds with five assists in the win.Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald joined the three-point party too shooting 3-of-6 (50%) which allowed him to score 13 points. Fitzgerald shot 4-of-10 (40%) from the field and grabbed six rebounds, dished two assists with a steal. Dajour Rucker earned a season and game-high seven rebounds (three offensive) with three assists and a steal. Tremere Brown and Stephon Roberts both ended with two blocks apiece. Brown added six points and four rebounds in the win.  

Up Next
The Trojans will be back in action Tuesday, January 10 hosting Johnson C. Smith in a doubleheader. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. after the women's basketball game.