VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Valdosta State men's basketball team concludes a five-game home stand as it begins the 2018-19 Gulf South Conference season this week with a pair of games at The Complex.  VSU hosts Union University Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. tip Saturday against Christian Brothers.  
 
Fans can access links to live stats and audio coverage of the game on the men's basketball schedule page as Mike Chason will have the call of both games on 92.1 WDDQ.  There will be no video streaming of the games this weekend.  Fans who attend the VSU football game Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Lenoir-Rhyne, will be admitted to the basketball doubleheader Saturday for free with their football game ticket. 
 
The Blazers moved up to No. 6 in the latest NABC Top 25, released Tuesday.  VSU is 5-0 on the year and is averaging 104.2 points per game for fourth nationally.  Union enters with a 4-2 record, while Christian Brothers is 4-1 on the year and will play at West Florida before visiting VSU Saturday evening.
 
VSU is coming off a pair of 120-plus point performances with a 127-92 win over Albany State on Nov. 15 and a 129-81 win over Brewton-Parker on Nov. 19.  It marked the first time in program history the Blazers had scored 120 or more points in back-to-back games.   
 
In the two games, VSU shot a blistering .584 from the field on 90 of 154.  The Blazers were 35 of 69 from beyond the arc (.507) and 41 of 49 from the line (.837).  VSU averaged 41.5 rebounds per game, while recording 54 assists with just 16 turnovers, four blocks and 19 steals. 
 
Conversely, the opposition shot 70 of 137 from the field (.511) with 14 triples in 35 attempts for a .400 clip and was 19 of 28 from the line (.679).  The opponents averaged 29.5 rebounds per game, while recording 34 assists with 33 turnovers, five blocks and seven steals.  
 
Individually, senior Winston Morgan had an outstanding two games as he averaged a team-high 22.5 points per game on 14 of 26 from the field (.538), while going a blistering 13 of 25 from beyond the arc (.520) and 4 of 4 from the line.  Morgan tied his career-high with nine triples made against Brewton-Parker on 9 of 16 from beyond the arc.  Senior Beau Justice averaged 20 points in the two games on 12 of 19 from the field with five triples and a team-high 11 of 12 from the line. He had 12 assists with just one turnover and three steals.  In all, VSU had six players average double figures in the two games.  Junior Goree Venable averaged a team-high 9.5 rebounds per game for the two games with 19 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. 
 
Nationally speaking, VSU ranks fourth nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 1.86 and second in the GSC behind Christian Brothers, who leads the nation at 1.96 per game. The Blazers also are fourth nationally in assists per game at 20.8, while ranking 15^thnationally and first in the GSC in field goal percentage at a .521 clip.  VSU is sixth nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 168, while ranking 28^thin rebounding margin at 8.8 for second in the league.  

The Blazers are second nationally in scoring margin at 26.0, while ranking fourth in scoring offense at 104.2 points per game and 15^thnationally in field goal percentage at a .521 clip.  VSU is eighth nationally in 3-point field goals per game at 12.6, while ranking 11^thnationally in 3-point field goal percentage at a .441 clip. VSU's 63 made triples leads the GSC and is 39^thnationally.  The Blazers are 29^thnationally in assists with 104 for second in the GSC, while ranking 11^thnationally in turnover margin at 6.0. VSU is third in the GSC and 47^thnationally in turnovers forced (17.2) and 44^thin turnovers per game (11.2) also good for third in the league.  The Blazers lead the GSC in rebounding per game at 39.8 for 65^thnationally and lead the GSC in steals per game at 8.8 for 55^thnationally.  
 
Union University enters with a 4-2 record and has lost two-straight after a 4-0 start.  The Bulldogs are led by Tyree Boykin, who is averaging 23.5 points per game in six games.  He is 52 of 97 from the field (.536) and has drained 28 triples in 55 attempts (.509).  Boykin has 13 assists with six steals.  Bryson Butler is second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game.  He is 13 of 33 from the field, while going a team-high 39 of 50 from the line (.780).  Butler is third in rebounding at 4.0 per game, while recording a team-high 15 assists. Terrandus Smith is third in scoring at 10.2 points per game on 20 of 44 from the floor.  He is 7 of 21 from range and 14 of 15 from the line to lead the team with a .933 free throw percentage.  He leads the team with ten steals, while Tylandrius Parks leads the team in rebounding at 6.9 per game.  
 
As a team, the Bulldogs are shooting .493 from on 173 of 351 from the field, while going 61 of 160 from beyond the arc (.381) and 96 of 124 from the line (.774).  Union is averaging 34.4 rebounds per game, while recording 79 assists, 13 blocks and 34 steals.  The Bulldogs are averaging 83.9 points per game.  
 
The opposition is shooting .443 against Union on 160 of 362 from the field, 54 of 141 (.374) from beyond the arc and 72 of 93 from the line (.777).  The opponents are averaging 30.2 rebounds per game, while recording 73 assists, 11 blocks and 34 steals.  Union is allowing 74.4 points per game.  
 
The Bulldogs are second in the GSC behind VSU in scoring offense at 83.8 points per game, while the team ranks fourth in the GSC in 3-point field goals made per game at 10.2. Individually, Boykin is 14^thnationally in 3-point field goal attempts (54), while Butler ranks 12^thnationally in free throw attempts (50) and seventh in free throws made (39).  Boykin is 27^thnationally and second in the league in points per game at 22.7, while he is sixth nationally in 3-point field goals made per game (4.50) and fifth nationally in 3-point field goals made (27). He is 28^thin total field goal attempts (95) and 14^thin field goals made (50), both ranking second in the GSC.  His 136 points ranks 20^thnationally and second in the league.
 
Christian Brothers enters with a 4-1 record and will open league play at West Florida on Thursday, before heading to Valdosta for Saturday's game.  The Buccaneers have a great win over then No. 3/8 Lincoln Memorial at home, 81-75, on Nov. 17, along with two wins over Central State and a victory over Harding.  The lone loss was an 83-79 home decision to Lane.
 
Leading the way for the Bucs this season is Joe Laravie, who is averaging 19.6 points per game. Laravie is 33 of 68 from the field (.485) with 15 triples in 36 attempts (.417) and 17 of 19 from the line.  He is averaging 3.0 rebounds per game, while recording 17 assists and four steals.  Adam Dieball is averaging 19.2 points per game on 32 of 63 from the floor (.508), while ranking third on the team in triples made (13) for a .433 clip on 30 attempts.  He has 19 made free throws to lead the team, while averaging a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.  Dieball has a team-high 44 assists for an 8.8 average with seven steals and nine blocks. Jacob Lyons and Nick Deifel also are averaging double figures.  
 
As a team, the Bucs are 142 of 275 from the field (.516), while going 61 of 142 from beyond the arc (.430). and 69 of 70 (.767) from the line.  CBU is averaging 30.8 rebounds per game, while recording 108 assists, 27 steals and 13 blocks.  The Bucs are averaging 82.8 points per game.  Teams are shooting .455 against CBU, .324 from beyond the arc and .726 from the line.  The opposition is averaging 32.2 rebounds per game, while scoring 72.8 points per game.
 
Following the two games this weekend, the Blazers return to the road at Tuskegee on December 8, before hosting Fort Valley State on December 10.