VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State looks to end the first half of the Gulf South Conference portion of its schedule on a winning note as the Blazers travel to Pensacola, Fla. to take on West Florida Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
The Blazers are looking to snap a five-game losing streak as they play their 11th conference game of the season. The five game skid has seen VSU's overall record fall to 7-9 on the season, including a 2-8 mark in league competition.
James Spencer currently leads Valdosta State as he averages 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The senior shoots 47.7 percent from the field on the season and also has 17 steals to go along with 12 blocked shots. Speaking of blocked shots,
Colin Cook continues to lead the GSC in blocks as he now has 35 on the season. Cook has been one of the top players in the conference since the start of the new calendar year as he is averaging 13.8 points and 9.5 rebounds a game since January 1. On the year, he now averages 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. Meanwhile,
Blake Justice also averages in double figures at 13.1 points a game and has hit a team-best 35 three-pointers.
Valdosta State averages 76.8 points a game and is shooting 42.3 percent from the floor. The Blazers have been strong rebounding the ball on the year as they average 38.8 per game and have out-rebounded foes in each of the last three games and in four out of the last five.
West Florida enters Saturday's game with a 6-10 record and is also 2-8 in GSC action. The Argonauts are the GSC's second-best rebounding team at 39.6 per game and average 70.6 points a contest. UWF has been slowed on the year by poor ball handling as it averages more than 16 turnovers a game while opponents average 10 steals a contest.
Three Argonaut players average double figures in points, led by Terrence Townes at 13.6. Erin Straughn adds 12.4 and Lendward Griffin 11.6 while each also average at least 5.5 rebounds per game.
Valdosta State has won 28 of the previous 47 meetings between the two schools, including 13 out of 15 since
Mike Helfer became the head coach. However, UWF has dominated the series as of late as it has won five out of the last seven meetings, including each of the last four in Pensacola.
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