VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State overcame a nine-point deficit with less than three minutes to go in regulation and scored six straight points in overtime to defeat Southeastern 95-89 in the first day of play at the VSU Classic Friday evening at The Complex.
 
Colin Cook hit a lay-up to open the overtime period to give Valdosta State its first lead since the Blazers led 19-17, and added one of two free throws on the next trip down the floor. Caleb Konieczny evened the contest with a three-pointer, but James Spencer, Blake Justice and Josh Lemons all followed with jumpers for VSU to put the Blazers back in front. The Fire got no closer than four points the rest of the game.
 
Valdosta State (3-0) was impressive from the floor in the opening minutes as it connected on four of its first five field goals to build an 8-2 lead three and a minutes into the contest. The Blazers maintained their lead for the next six minutes before Southeastern (2-2) put together a run to grab the lead.
 
Trailing 19-17 with just over ten minutes to go, the Fire got a pair of three-pointers from Konieczny to take the lead. Meanwhile, the SEU defense forced the Blazers to miss eight of their next 10 field goal attempts, which allowed Southeastern to build a 35-27 lead with 3:40 remaining in the first half.
 
After Cook wrapped a pair of buckets and a free throw around a Fire basket to pull the Blazers back to within five points, Southeastern used a 7-0 run to grab its largest lead at 44-32 with 1:36 remaining in the half before settling for a 44-35 halftime lead.
 
Southeastern twice built an 11-point lead in the early minutes of the second half before Valdosta State used a 13-3 run to pull to within a single point. Justice hit a pair of three pointers during the run while Cook added a dunk and a three-point play with 11:36 remaining to close VSU to within 53-52.
 
Southeastern responded with 15 of the next 23 points to once again push its advantage to eight points and eventually built a 77-68 lead with 2:42 to play before Valdosta State put together its final run of the game.
 
Spencer opened the run with a three-point play before Justice hit a lay-up and Jeremiah Hill a three-pointer. Following a free throw by SEU's Andre Winston, Spencer made one of two free throws and the Blazer defense forced a turnover to get the Blazers the ball back with 32 seconds remaining. Hill missed a field goal attempt, but grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He connected on one of the two ensuing free throws to even the game at 78-78, but fouled Larry Taylor on the ensuing possession.
 
Taylor made both of his free throw attempts to put Southeastern in front, but Justice hit a jumper with two seconds remaining to force the overtime period.
 
Cook led the Blazers as he scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 13 rebounds while also blocking five shots. Spencer and Justice added 20 points each and Hill scored 16.
 
The Blazers 44.0 percent from the floor in the game as they made 37-of-84 field goal attempts. The Blazers were out-rebounded 51-44, but forced Southeastern in 18 turnovers, including three in overtime. VSU tallied eight steals in the game and also blocked nine shots.
 
Winston scored 25 points to lead Southeastern while Konieczny had 20. SEU connected on 30 of its 68 field goal attempts, including 11 out of 28 three-pointers.
 
Valdosta State returns to action Saturday when it hosts Carver Bible at 4:00 p.m. in The Complex.