VALDOSTA, Ga. – Looking to get back on the winning track after a 1-1 record last week, the No. 21 Valdosta State men's basketball team returns to The Complex this week, hosting rival West Georgia and Shorter in a pair of key Gulf South Conference matchups.  The Blazers and Wolves are set for an 8 p.m. tip Thursday, while VSU welcomes Shorter on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more on vstateblazers.com on the men's basketball schedule page.  The games this weekend also will be broadcast on 92.1 WDDQ FM with Mike Chason having the call of the games.
 
The first 500 students who attend the men's and women's basketball doubleheader Thursday versus West Georgia will receive a free t-shirt.  
  
The Blazers are coming off a 1-1 weekend with a 95-77 win at Mississippi College and a disappointing 88-83 loss at Delta State.  Against Mississippi College, junior Clay Guillozet dropped 29 points on 10 of 13 from the field with three triples and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line, while junior Bryce Smith tallied 22 points on 9 of 11 from the field and 4 of 7 from the line. Senior Beau Justice added 19 points on 8 of 13 from the field, one triple and a team-high seven rebounds. VSU shot 57.4 percent from the field against the Choctaws and went 18 of 19 form the line.
 
Against Delta State, VSU held a lead in just about every statistical category, but rebounding as the Blazers shot 50 percent from the field on 31 of 62, while going 9 of 27 from beyond the arc and 12 of 15 from the line.  DSU held a 48-23 lead in rebounding and hurt the Blazers in second chance points, at 26-5.  Despite that, VSU was within one with 1:11 left in the contest, but was unable to get the go ahead score, after almost completely erasing an 11-point deficit with 4:32 remaining.  Justice had a game-high 28 points on 11 of 17 from the field with two triples, leading four Blazers in double figures.  DSU had five players in double figures and three double-doubles in the game.
 
Heading into the week, VSU fell seven spots to No. 21 in the latest NABC Top 25.  Morehouse is No. 3 in the poll, followed by Nova Southeastern at No. 6, Lynn at No. 17, the Blazers at No. 21, followed by Florida Southern at No. 22.  Eckerd is among others receiving votes.  Delta State leads the conference standings with a 7-1 record, while VSU and Lee are tied for second at 6-2.  West Georgia fourth at 5-2, followed by a three-way tie for fifth at 5-3.  
 
Justice leads the Blazers averaging 22.0 points per game, as he is 18^thnationally and second in the league to West Georgia's Marquill Smith (24.9).  Justice is 125 of 249 from the field (.502) as his 125 field goals made ranks 18^thnationally to lead the GSC and his 249 attempts is 19^thnationally and second in the league.  His 352 points ranks first in the conference and 14^thnationally.  Justice is 44 of 100 from beyond the arc (.440), to lead the league in 3-point field goal average, and a team-best 58 of 69 from the line (.841).  His 42 triples made ranks second in the conference behind teammate Winston Morgan and Justice's 2.75 triples made per game is third-best in the league.  
 
Second on the team in scoring is Guillozet at 14.1 points per game.  He is fifth in the league in field goal percentage on 81 of 162 (.500), while going 26 of 62 from beyond the arc (.419) and 38 of 50 from the line (.760). Guillozet leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game.  Morgan is third on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game.  He is a team-best 54 of 130 from beyond the arc (.415) as his 54 made triples ranks ninth nationally and first in the league.  His 3.38 made field goals per game is 20^thnationally and first in the league, while his .419 average from beyond the arc is good for third in the league.  Junior Darrell Jones is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game and is 71 of 139 from the field (.511), while going 31 of 44 from the line (.705).  Jones is second in rebounding at 6.1 per game.
 
As a team, the Blazers are shooting .490 from the field on 526 of 1073 as the .490 average ranks 32^ndnationally and second in the league.  The Blazers are 170 of 432 from beyond the arc for a .394 clip as the 170 made triples is 17^thnationally and second in the league, while the .394 average ranks 33^rdnationally and third in the league.  VSU is 230 of 305 from the line (.754), while averaging 37.8 rebounds per game.  
 
The Blazers have 290 assists for an 18.1 average per game for 12^thnationally and first in the league.  VSU has 176 turnovers for the year and ranks 10^thnationally in assist/turnover ratio at a 1.65 clip.  VSU leads the league in offensive rebounds per game at 12.7 for 45^thnationally, while ranking sixth in scoring offense at 90.8 points per game.  The Blazers are 10^thin total assists (290) to lead the GSC and lead the conference in blocks with 50.   The 604 rebounds ranks second in the league and the 37.8 average also is second in the conference.  VSU is 22^ndin turnover margin at 4.1, while forcing 15.1 turnovers per game, allowing 11.0 per contest.  
 
West Georgia enters with a 10-5 record overall and a 5-2 mark in conference play.  UWG hasn't played since a 70-66 win at Lee on Jan. 10. The Wolves are led by Smith at 24.9 points per game.  He is 113 of 259 from the field (.436), a team-best 44 of 118 from beyond the arc (.373) and 78 of 109 from the line (.716).  Smith also leads the team in rebounding at 8.5 per game, while leading the team in blocks with 13.  Gerald Blunt is second in scoring at 10.3 points per game on 59 of 138 from the floor (.428).  He is 36 of 45 from the line, while averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.  Jared Simmons is second in made triples with 26, while Aren Ulmer leads the team with 71 assists and 36 steals.  
 
As a team, the Wolves are shooting .459 from the field on 397 of 864.  UWG is 104 of 294 from beyond the arc (.353) and 232 of 315 from the line (.737).  The Wolves are averaging 34 rebounds per game, while scoring 75.3 points per contest. The opposition is shooting at a .439 clip, while going .313 from beyond the arc and .662 from the line.  Teams are averaging 36.1 rebounds against the Wolves and scoring 71.0 points per game.
 
Shorter enters with a 2-13 record overall and a 0-7 mark in the GSC.  The Hawks will play at West Florida before visiting VSU on Saturday. Shorter is led by Joe Russell at 12.3 points per game on 69 of 145 from the field (.476).  He leads the team with 27 triples made.  TayVaughn Major is second in scoring at 10.5 points per game. Frenki Lilaj leads the team averaging 4.6 rebounds per game.  
 
As a team, the Hawks are shooting at a .403 clip, while teams are shooting .485 against them.  SU has 99 triples in 333 attempts, while going 171 of 257 from the line (.665) and averages 28 rebounds per game.  The Haws are averaging 62.2 points per game, while allowing 75.6.
 
Following the games this weekend, VSU returns to the road, beginning a string of four of five away from home.  Valdosta State travels to Montevallo and Auburn Montgomery next week, followed by a home game against Montevallo on Jan. 31, and road games at West Georgia and Shorter to open the month of February.  
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete coverage of all 12 VSU sports and complete recaps and stats of every basketball game this season.