CHARLOTTE - The Johnson C. Smith University men's and women's basketball team will travel to Ettrick, Va to take on the Trojans of Virginia State University on Tuesday, January 10 for a CIAA cross division matchup. The contest is set for 5:30 p.m., for the women and the men to follow at the VSU Multipurpose Center.

The JCSU holds an 11-7 record over the VSU Trojans in the series. The teams met last season, where the VSU secured a close 87-82 win over Johnson C. Smith.

JCSU is 4-9 on the season, 0-4 in the CIAA after a Jan. 7 loss against Elizabeth City State. The Lady Golden Bulls are averaging 69 points per game while allowing 71. Collectively, they are shooting 39% from the field, 30% from three-point range and 63% from the foul line. JCSU averages 43 rebounds and 12 assists per game.  Shaniya Jones leads the Golden Bulls averaging 20.8 points per game, while India Howard controls JCSU's boards (12.3 per game) and Aaliyah Bell leads in assists (3 per game).

The Trojans are 7-7 on the season, 3-2 in the CIAA, under the leadership of VSU's 1^st year head coach Nadine Domond. Sommer Blakemore leads the team with 15.7 points per game; shooting 39.6% from the field, and averages 5.5 free throws, 2.7 steals and 3.4 assists per game. Kylah Webb leads the Trojans in rebounds, averaging 5.7 boards per game.
 
The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls are struggling to find a win losing five of their last six games. They are -1.9 in the scoring margin averaging 71.8 points per game while giving up 73.7. They do however, lead the conference in free throw percentage (74.0%). They shoot 44.2% from the field and 34.6% from the three-point line while hitting 6.1 per game.

Ezekiel Cannedy leads the conference averaging 15.6 points per game which ranks him fourth in the CIAA conference. He shoots 48.6% from the field which ranks him fifth while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc. Cannedy leads the conference with 36 three-pointers made this season. He also leads the team with 26 assists and 17 steals.

The Virginia State men's basketball team is 11-4 (4-0 CIAA) this season which makes them the team to beat in the CIAA as they are the only team without a conference loss.
The Trojans currently have four players who average double figures.  
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