VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State scored 17 of the game's first 20 points and never looked back as the Blazers defeated Webber International 82-62 in non-conference men's basketball action at The Complex Saturday evening.
After
Colin Cook hit one of two free throws to open the game,
Jeremiah Hill added a three-pointer for Valdosta State (5-1).
James Spencer and
Josh Lemons contributed lay-ups to push the Blazer lead to 8-0 before Raymond Durant connected on a pair of free throws to get Webber International (0-8) on the board. Hill added a lay-up and
Jeff Nibo threw down a dunk before
Shaun Jones wrapped a tip-in bucket and a three-pointer around a free throw for the Warriors to put VSU in front 17-3 at the 10:55 mark of the first half.
The Valdosta State defense held WIU without a bucket for 11 minutes to open the game before the Warriors put together a pair of baskets to get their deficit back under double digits. However, Spencer responded with a bucket and Webber International got no closer than nine points the remainder of the first half. Hill connected on a three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining in the frame to give VSU a 36-22 advantage at the intermission.
Valdosta State slowly increased its lead in the early minutes of the second half, with a
Blake Justice three-pointer with 16:01 remaining pushing the advantage above 20 points. VSU's lead grew to as much as 29 points, at 71-42 on a
Jacob Obande three-pointer, with just over seven minutes remaining in the game and again following a Nibo three-point play three minutes later and dipped no lower than 20 points the remainder of the game.
The Blazers made 30-of-63 field goals to shoot 47.6 percent from the floor in the game and owned a 45-37 edge in rebounding. Hill led Valdosta State with 16 points while Jones added 11 and Lemons 10. Spencer had a team-high nine rebounds to go along with nine points.
Valdosta State returns to action Thursday, December 4 when it opens Gulf South Conference play at North Alabama. Tip-off is slated for 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
