WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team suffered a 95-86 loss to the hosting Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish in South Region action on the final day of the 2016 Thanksgiving Classic in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Sunday.
Blazer guard
Sheldon Zablotny, who led the Blazers with 25 points in the game, helped VSU get off to a great start in the contest with a layup and a three pointer in the opening minutes. Zablotny's effort sparked an 11-5 run out of the gate, and VSU held that advantage for a 22-18 lead after the first nine minutes of the opening period.
The Sailfish fired back, however, using a three-point barrage during the remaining minutes of the first half to overtake the Blazers with a narrow 50-45 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Valdosta State connected for seven of their 11 three pointers in the game, including four from Zablotny, who hit from beyond the arc seven times in the game. Against a 64.5 percent second-half shooting performance by the Sailfish, however, the long-range shooting effort was not enough for the Blazers, who were awarded just two free throw attempts in the game, both in the first half.
The story of the night was PBA's shooting effort, which led to a 37-of-65, 56.9 percent performance from the field and a 10-of-20, 50 percent night from the three point line. PBA's accuracy from the field overshadowed an otherwise impressive 37-of-77, 48.1 percent shooting effort by Valdosta State.
PBA's De'Ondre Jackson was the offensive highlight for the Sailfish with 27 points (11-of-14), nine of which came on long range shots. Meanwhile,
Saadiq Muhammad and
Jimmy Kodet joined Zablotny with double digits in the scoring column for Valdosta State.
The loss was VSU's first of the season and dropped the team to 4-1 overall. Meanwhile, the Sailfish lifted their record to 4-2 on the young season.
Valdosta State will be back at home on Thursday, Dec. 1
st, for another non-conference matchup against Armstrong Atlantic. The game is set to tipoff at 8:00 p.m. at The Complex.
