FLORENCE, Ala. – North Alabama used a 20-11 run over the final seven minutes of the game to defeat Valdosta State 70-68 in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at Flowers Hall Thursday evening.
 
North Alabama (4-3, 1-0) trailed 57-50 with 6:51 to go when it started its run. Lazar Petrov came off the bench to hit a pair of buckets before Brandon Herman added a fast break lay-up and a pair of free throw to put the Lions in front. After the two teams traded baskets, Herman hit a fade-away three-pointer and Jeff Hodge also added a trifecta to push the UNA advantage to 66-59.
 
The Blazers (5-2, 0-1) staged a comeback as Blake Justice hit a pair of three-pointers, the second coming on a fast break following a Josh Lemons steal with just 45 seconds to play. UNA proceeded to hit two of four free throws, while Colin Cook also added a charity shot for the Blazers, but Herman grabbed a rebound on the second North Alabama missed free throw and laid the ball back in to push the UNA lead to four points. Josh Lemons was fouled on a three-point attempt with less than a second to play and made two free throws, but VSU was unable to corral the rebound when he intentionally missed the third free throw.
 
The first half was sloppy as Valdosta State struggled shooting the ball while North Alabama committed double digit turnovers. The first five minutes were back and forth as the two teams traded the lead five times during the span. North Alabama eventually grabbed an 11-9 lead on a Jeff Hodge three-pointer with 15:26 to go before the Blazers went cold from the floor.
 
After connecting on four of its first seven shots, VSU made only two of its next nine chances during the next five minutes of the game. However, the Lions committed five turnovers during that time, allowing them to only add four points to their lead.
 
Valdosta State used a brief 5-0 run, on a three-pointer by Jeremiah Hill and a dunk by James Spencer, to even the score at 18-18 before North Alabama responded with an 8-0 run, including six straight free throws, to gain its largest lead of the half at 26-18 with 5:10 to play.
 
The Blazers fought back once again as it tallied three three-pointers, including two by Justice, in the final minutes of the half. Justice's final three of the half, which came with three seconds remaining before the halftime horn, posted VSU to a 31-29 lead at the intermission.
 
Much like the start of the game, the beginning of the second half was closely contested as the two teams traded the lead twice and there were five ties in the first seven minutes of play. Valdosta State eventually grabbed the lead of the game when Spencer hit a jumper and Jeff Nibo added a pair of free throws for a 48-44 Blazer advantage with 12:12 to play.
 
Justice led Valdosta State with 16 points while Hill added 14 and Nibo 12. VSU made 27-of-71 field goals to shoot 38.0 percent from the floor and was out-rebounded 44-39 in the contest.
 
Herman led all scorers with 26 points as North Alabama made 23 of its 53 field goals. The Lions turned the ball over 19 times in the game, which led to 14 steals for the Blazers.
 
Valdosta State returns to action Saturday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. when it travels to Alabama-Huntsville.