Senior guard Antonio Fitzgerald (Danville, VA) scored a career-high 37 points to spark Saint Augustine’s College over Virginia State 76-70 in a key CIAA men’s basketball matchup on Tuesday, January 30, 2007.

Fitzgerald made 12 of 17 shots including four of seven three-pointers and swished nine of 11 free throws for the Falcons, who improved to 14-5 overall and 10-3 in the CIAA.  Senior guard Barry Jones (Seattle, WA) added 16 points including five of eight three-pointers. Jones has made 18 of 26 three-pointers in his last three games.

Fitzgerald surpassed his previous career high of 35 points, which he scored twice in December 2005, against Columbia Union and Bowie State.

The contest pitted the top two teams in the CIAA. Virginia State (14-4, 9-2 CIAA) leads the CIAA and the Falcons are second.

Fitzgerald scored 22 first-half points as the Falcons led 36-33 at halftime. The Falcons opened a 17-point first-half lead before the Trojans rallied before halftime.

The Falcons led 64-63 before Jones swished two straight three-pointers to make it 70-63 with 2:28 left. Fitzgerald hit two free throws for a 74-65 lead with 41 seconds left.

Michael Askew led the Trojans with 17 points and Avis Wyatt added 13 points. Jamar Fleming chipped in 12 points and Edwin Torres scored 10 points for the Trojans.

Junior center Jeff Sullivan (Carrolton, AL) added eight points and five rebounds for the Falcons, who visit Virginia Union in another key CIAA battle on Saturday, February 3, 2007. The tip-off starts at 7:30 p.m.

The Falcons are 13-2 when scoring 70 or more points.