VALDOSTA, Ga. – Thursday night, the biggest Gulf South Conference matchup of the 2016-17 men's basketball season is set to take place, and it will happen in Titletown, USA at The Complex, where the Valdosta State Blazers and the Delta State Statesmen will put their tie for first place on the line.
The two teams come in squarely tied for the top position with identical records both overall (12-3) and in conference play (7-2). Oddly enough, the two teams also enter the midseason matchup tied at 20-20 in the overall series between the two programs. Furthermore, both teams are coming in with significant streaks in league action. Valdosta State has won four straight, while the Statesmen have knocked off their last five opponents.
Something has to give, and if
Jeremiah Hill's recent performance keeps up, the Blazers have reason to be optimistic. The senior has been red hot as of late, averaging 23.5 points per game during the squad's current four-game winning streak. Just over one week ago against Shorter, Hill dropped nine threes in one contest, nearly matching his record-setting effort less than one year ago in Livingston, Ala., where he buried 11 threes to match the all-time GSC single-game record. Hill currently represents the fourth-best scorer in the league when measured by points per game (18.3).
On the other side of the coin, however, there's DSU standout Devin Schmidt. The 6-4 guard is currently on track to become one of the top career performers in Gulf South Conference history. This season has been no different, as Schmidt currently ranks second in the league in scoring with an average of 24.9 points per game. He also ranks second on his team in rebounding with an average of 5.5 per game. Against No. 21 Alabama-Huntsville last week, the reigning GSC Player of the Week, scored 32 second half points en route to a career high 47 point performance.
Valdosta State continues their best start since the 2011 on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m., and live coverage of the event will be available at www.vstateblazers.com.
