JACKSON, Tenn. – The Valdosta State Blazers saw their 2015 Gulf South Conference playoff hopes come to an end on Thursday evening in Jackson, Tenn. after a 91-80 defeat at the hands of the Union Bulldogs.
 
The loss dropped VSU to 9-15 overall on the year, and the team fell to 4-14 against GSC opponents. Union improved to 17-7 overall and continued their pursuit of a higher seed in the GSC playoffs with an improved 11-7 conference record.
 
Two minutes into the contest, James Spencer put the Blazers on top with a successful jumper, and Union's Jordan Montgomery answered with a three point shot just seven seconds later. The shot gave UU a 3-2 lead early in the contest, one that the Bulldogs would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.
 
The Blazers trailed 16-7 with 13:02 to play in the opening frame, but a 6-1 run over the course of the next minute and a half brought the red and black to within four points at 17-13. The ensuing minutes, however, proved to be the backbreaking moment for VSU, as the Bulldogs scored 12 straight unanswered points to spread their lead to 29-13.
 
It was all Union from that moment on, as the Bulldogs used a combination of efficient transition play and strong long range shooting to keep the Blazers at bay with a 48-32 halftime deficit that was too much for VSU to overcome.
 
VSU didn't go down without a fight though. Jeff Nibo executed a three point play to cut UU's lead to ten points at 71-61 with 8:31 to play in the game and again to nine after a three ball by Lester Moore at the 5:32 mark, but each time VSU appeared to threaten, Union would answer with a big shot. The last push for VSU during the final minute brought the Blazers to within just eight points, but UU converted their free throw attempts to hold off the red and black.

Union used a barrage of shots from long range to keep their lead intact in the second half, and finished the night with 14 three pointers in 27 attempts for a 51.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs saw five different players score 12 or more points on the night, and Marterrace Brock finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds to notch a double-double.
 
The Blazers matched their opponent in most of the game's statistical categories but were unable to match the Bulldogs on the offensive end. VSU shot 44.9 percent from the field in the contest and 32.1 percent on 9-of-28 shooting from long distance.

Nibo set a new career mark in the contest with 23 points on an 8-of-12 effort from the field and a 3-of-6 shooting performance from three point range. The junior rounded out his night with four rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist.
 
VSU will aim to play the spoiler role from here on out, beginning with their final road game of the 2015 season in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. EST against the Bucs of Christian Brothers.