Raleigh, NC. – The Saint Augustine's men's basketball team lost its CIAA home-opener to the Virginia State University Trojans 69-55. The Trojans overpowered the Falcons with size all game long as it started the first half on a quick 6-0 run. The Falcons responded quickly going on a 10-1 run as Senior forward, Jaylen Richard sparked the offense hitting his first four shots, including a big-time 3-pointer off the bench. The Falcons took a 17-14 lead during that stretch, but that would be its largest, and last lead of the game. The Trojans, led by Terrence Hunter-Whitfield, would go on an 8-0 run of its own, and eventually closed the half on a 14-7 run to give them a 38-27 lead.
Seeking an offensive spark, Falcons head coach, Chucky Brown inserted Jaylen Richard in the starting lineup in the second half. Sophomore point guard, Christopher Hill started to heat up in the second half and provided some much-needed offense for the Falcons. The contest went back and forth with the Falcons getting within 9 points with 11:57 to go in the game (46-37). The Falcons were unable to make much progress offensively, and Trojans senior guard BJ Fitzgerald nailed a dagger 3 after a missed defensive rebound to officially close the game with 5:38 to go.
The Falcons were led by Christopher Hill with 17 points on 7-10 shooting, and Jaylen Richard with 16 points off the bench.
Head Coach Chucky Brown's Postgame Comments
"I thought we came out and had good energy. Played hard, we missed a few layups, made a few silly turnovers. The score was right where we wanted it. 69 points, that's not a bad night. But we didn't' do the things that we needed to do, as far as taking care of the ball. 13 turnovers, that's not bad, but the live-ball turnovers -- when they're getting transition points, that's what kind of hurt us. But I thought we came out with good energy, I think we got outrebounded today, so we got to be a little tougher and stronger. Virginia State, they're a little older team, a little more physical -- it's kind of like grown men playing with younger dudes. But still, that's not an excuse, we still should be able to handle our own. But they did a good job, made a few big shots, but I thought the game was -- it was our type of game that we needed, but we just didn't capitalize when we needed to."
TEAM STATS
- The Falcons are now 3-7 on the season
- SAU's bench scored 30 points, and outscored its counterparts by 14 (30-16)
- VSU had 10 fastbreak points compared to SAU's 2 (10-2)
- The Falcons were outrebounded 36-31 on the night
- The Trojans had three players in double-figures (Terrence Hunter-Whitfield (16), Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald (14), and Tremere Brown (10)
- VSU shot 13 more free throws than SAU (30-17)
UP NEXT
- The Falcons will host conference opponent Elizabeth City State on Saturday, Dec. 17
- Tipoff is set for 4:00 PM ET
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