VALDOSTA, Ga. - James Spencer made 10 of his 12 field goal attempts and scored a game-high 24 points to lead Valdosta State to a 75-70 victory over Lee in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at The Complex Wednesday evening.

Lee (6-2, 1-2) dominated the opening minutes of the game as the Flames scored 10 of the games' first 13 points of the contest while making four of their first five field goal attempts. The hot shooting by LU continued over the first 10 minutes of the contest as Lee converted on eight of its first 11 shots overall, which led to an 18-12 LU lead with 10:48 remaining in the first half.

Valdosta State (6-3, 1-2) answered the early charge by the Flames with a string of hot shooting itself over the next six minutes of play as, after opening the game 5-of-11 from the field, the Blazers made seven of their next 13 attempts to spark a 16-4 run. Spencer opened the run with a pair of baskets before Jeff Nibo gave VSU its first lead with a three-pointer with 9:32 remaining in the first half. Following a Tyquan Roberts lay-up for the Flames, Jeremiah Hill scored for Valdosta State and Spencer pushed the advantage to three points with a basket. Cory Billingsley got LU back to with a single point a minute later, but Josh Lemons added a bucket for the Blazers and Jay Watkins closed out the run with a three-pointer from the corner that gave VSU a 28-22 advantage with 4:10 remaining in the half.

The Flames got no closer than two points the rest of the half as Valdosta State took a 30-26 advantage into the lockerroom at the half.

Much like the first half, Lee opened the second half on a run as it scored 10 of the first 12 points of the frame. Chad Lee and Billingsley each hit three pointers for LU during the spurt while Elgrin Wilson added a pair of baskets underneath to help the Flames build a 36-32 advantage less than four minutes into the half.

The next three minutes were back and forth as neither team was able to gain control of the game before Spencer sparked a 9-0 run that gave the Blazers the lead for good. The senior connected on a three-pointer to open the run and later added a fast break lay-up while Nils Dejworek and Nibo also added baskets for VSU.

The Valdosta State lead grew to as much as 56-46 with 6:43 remaining, but Lee wouldn't go away as pulled to within two points four minutes later. However, Nibo responded with a three-point play and VSU stretched its lead back to eight points with 57 seconds remaining before connecting on six free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Nibo joined Spencer in double figure scoring with 15 points while Lemons added 12 for the Blazers, who shot 50.0 percent from the floor in the game. Valdosta State, which made 27-of-54 overall from the floor, was particularly effective shooting in the second half as it made 14 of its 25 attempts in the frame to shoot 56.0 percent during the final 20 minutes of play.

The Blazers forced Lee into 17 turnovers in the game as the Blazers came away with seven steals. The defensive effort was more evident in blocked shots as VSU swatted nine LU shots away in the game, including eight blocks by Colin Cook. VSU also made 15 of its 17 free throw attempts in the game and owned a 14-0 advantage in fast break points.

Lee led LU with 18 points as he connected on six three-pointers in the game while Billingsley added 16 and Wilson 10 off the bench. The Flames made 28-of-63 field goal attempts to shoot 44.4 percent in the game and owned a 35-31 advantage in rebounding.

Valdosta State returns to action Monday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. when it hosts Shorter in Gulf South Conference action at The Complex.