ETTRICK, VA- No stranger to playoff atmosphere, Coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. and his prepares for their Quarterfinals matchup against Lincoln (Pa.). Seniors Terrence Hunter - Whitfield and Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald have unfinished business after being eliminated in the quarterfinals a season ago. 

 Virginia State No. 3 vs. Lincoln (Pa.) No. 6

Date	Wednesday, February 23 2023
Time	6:00 p.m.
Live Stream	ESPN+
Live Stats	Live Stats
Location	Baltimore, MD (CFG Bank Arena)
Twitter	@VSUsports
Instagram	@vsutrojans_1882
Facebook	Virginia State University Athletics

 

Series History
The Trojans are 21-8 against the Lions in matchups dating back to 2007. The Trojans and Lions split during the regular season as the deciding game will ultimately be the most important.

Self-Scout
The Virginia State Men's Basketball team finished the regular season 17-10 (10-6 CIAA). The Trojans haven't had game action in five days as their last time out they allowed Virginia Union to complete their season sweep.
Virginia State scores 73.0 points per game while giving up 68.1. The squad still leads the CIAA in assists per contest (14.15) while maintaining an assist/turnover ratio a 0.87 (third in CIAA). VSU currently shoots 43.3% from the field and 34.8% (2^nd in CIAA). They get to the free throw line 15.8 times per game but look to shoot with more consistency maintaining a 65.6% free throw percentage. The squad allows their opponents to shoot just 40.8% from the field (2^nd in CIAA) and 29.8% (3^rd in CIAA) from beyond the arc. They have forced 422 turnovers on the season and average 16.3 points per game off turnovers. They are currently plus 6.4 (2^nd in CIAA) in the rebounding category and have accounted for 192 steals this season. They also average 3.37 blocks per game (3^rd in CIAA). The Trojans currently have four players who average double figures.  



Bucket Getter
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield finished the season ranking second in the CIAA in points per game averaging 17.8 (2^nd in CIAA) while shooting 73.0% (10^th in CIAA) from the free throw line. He also leads the team (2^nd n CIAA, T-15^th in NCAA) with 48 steals averaging 1.9 per contest. Hunter-Whitfield ranks second on the team with 4.8 rebounds per game (T-17^th in CIAA). Hunter-Whitfield has been deadly efficient from the field shooting 45.6% (3rd in CIAA). He knocks down 33.6% of his shots from downtown and is second on the team with 36 three-pointers made (12^th in CIAA). He is fourth on the team with 48 assists this season (20^th in CIAA).

Switchblade
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald  is the CIAA's 2023 three-point champion leading the conference with 67 made three-pointers shooting 42.4% from beyond the arc. He also continues to consistently stuff the stat sheet as he ranks second on the team in assists with 70 (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 7.2 rebounds per game leads the team (4th in CIAA). The sharpshooting rebounder averages 15.6 points per game (4^th in CIAA). He also ties for 14^th in the CIAA with 13 blocks.
 
The General
The signal-caller for the Trojans in Zach Newkirk currently leads the conference averaging 3.9 assists per game while maintaining a 1.5 assist/turnover ratio (T-3^rd in CIAA). Newkirk has become the best free throw shooter in the CIAA as he ties for first with an 81.1% free throw percentage. Newkirk hits 30-of-78 (38.5%) three-pointers this season and is tied for 15^th in the conference with 30 made three-pointers. He averages 10.5 points per contest on a 40.9% field goal percentage.

Paint Beast
Tremere Brown has been a dominating force in the paint for the Trojans this season averaging 10.1 points per game along with 5.2 rebounds a game (T-11^th in CIAA) and leads the team with 73 offensive rebounds (3^rd in CIAA). Brown leads the team with a 57.4% field goal percentage along with 15 blocks. (T-13^th in CIAA).

Scouting the Lions
Lincoln (Pa.) enters the matchup riding high after their 82-50 victory over No. 11 JCSU in the opening round. Teams have had a rough go advancing the ball up the court the Lions the conference with 543 turnovers with a 4.72 turnover margin while scoring 19.8 points off of turnovers. The team shoots 41.9% from the field but struggle from the three-point line shooting just 31.5%. The team shoots 16.8 free throws per contest while hitting 69.6% from the free throw line. They are currently -3.6 in the rebounding category. After scoring his 2,000^th point, Korey Williams ranks third in the conference with 17.1 points per contest. He ties for second in the conference with 62 made three pointers as he is 62-of-162 (38.3%) from beyond the arc. He leads the conference in free throw percentage maintaining an 81.1%. Williams ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage with a 44.4%. He also ranks fourth in the conference with 46 steals. Reggie Hudson leads the conference in steals with 51 while ranking second behind Newkirk with 89 assists.