VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off a disappointing end to the 2018 portion of the schedule in a 77-73 loss to Emmanuel (Ga.) on Sunday, the No. 9 Valdosta State men's basketball team returns to Gulf South Conference play on Thursday at 8 p.m. versus West Florida at The Complex.  VSU then will close the homestand with West Alabama Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Fans can access links to live stats, streaming and ticket information on vstateblazers.com on the men's basketball schedule page.  The games will be broadcast on 92.1 WDDQ with Mike Chason having the call.  Check back with vstateblazers.com following the games for a complete recap and stats. 
 
The Blazers had their worst shooting performances of the season in the loss to Emmanuel.  VSU shot just 27 of 79 (.342) for the game and was just 6 of 27 (.222) from beyond the arc in the contest.  The Blazers went 13 of 19 from the line, but surrendered a season-high 50 rebounds to the Lions.  VSU had four starters in double figures, with a double-double from junior Clay Guillozet with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Emmanuel's Kendrick Colvin scored a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds.  
 
Heading into 2019, the Gulf South Conference preseason league-favorite Blazers are 10-2 and 3-1 in conference play, while upstart Lee leads the conference standings with a 4-0 record and is 7-5 on the year.  The Flames have won six-straight games after starting the season 1-5.  Along with VSU, four other teams are tied in conference play at 3-1, including West Alabama who is 8-3 overall.  Christian Brothers and Delta State also are 3-1 in conference play so far.  
 
West Florida (4-8, 0-4 GSC) snapped a six-game skid with a 77-55 win over LaGrange College to close 2018. The Argos were picked second in the preseason conference poll behind the Blazers.  UWF is shooting .401 on the year on 264 of 659, while going 74 of 220 from beyond the arc (.336) and 185 of 258 (.717) from the line.  The Argos are averaging 32.7 rebounds per game and scoring 65.6 points per contest.  Despite the 4-8 record, UWF has been outscored by a total of five points (792-787).  
 
Individually, Rashaan Benson leads the team averaging 13.8 points per game in 12 starts.  He is 59 of 149 from the field (.356) to lead the team, while going 17 of 54 (.315) from beyond the arc and a team-best 43 of 56 from the line (.768).  Benson is averaging 3.4 rebounds per game, with a team-high 34 assists and 21 steals. Jon Brown is second in scoring at 11.6 points per game on 44 of 106 (.415) from the field.  He is 10 of 27 from range and 41 of 53 from the line for a team-high .774 clip.  Brown is third on the team in rebounding at a 5.0 clip and is tied for second in blocks with six.  Maxwell Benoit is 17 of 47 from beyond the arc to tie for the team-lead in triples made, while Jarett Henderson leads the team averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.
 
Teams are shooting 286 of 659 from the field against the Argos (.434), while going 101 of 297 from beyond the arc (.340) and 119 of 174 from the line (.684).  The opposition averages 36.2 rebounds per game.
 
UWA will play at VSU for its first game of 2019 on Saturday and the Tigers are shooting at a .424 clip on 244 of 576, while going 66 of 217 from range (.304) and 174 of 255 from the line for a .682 clip.  UWA is averaging 39.2 rebounds per game and allowing just 31.1, while scoring 66.2 points per contest and allowing 61.3.  
 
Individually, the Tigers are led by Josh Fleming, who leads the team at 11.7 points per game. Fleming is 39 of 98 from the field (.398) and a team-best 16 of 51 from beyond the arc (.314).  Second on the team in scoring is Ricky Dunnaway at 10.3 points per game.  Dunnaway is 41 of 88 from the field (.466), while going a team-best 31 of 52 from the line. Dunnaway leads the team in rebounding at 6.5 per game.  DeAndre Harper is second in rebounding at 6.0 per game, while Lajuan Hardy leads the team in assists with 56 and steals with 22.
 
For the season, the Blazers are led by senior Beau Justice who is averaging a team-high 22.2 points per game.  Justice is 94 of 192 from the field (.490), 35 of 80 from beyond the arc (.438) and a team-high 43 of 52 from the line (.827).  He has 49 assists for second on the team, while ranking third on the team in steals with 16.  Second on the team in scoring is senior Winston Morgan at 14.3 points per game. Morgan is 55 of 123 from the field (.447), while leading the team from beyond the arc at 45 of 102 (.441).  He is 16 of 21 in free throws and is third in assists with 39.  Junior Darrell Jones is third in scoring at 13.8 points per game, while leading the team in rebounding at 7.4 per contest.  Jones is 64 of 119 from the field for a team-best .538 average among starters.  Junior Clay Guillozet is fourth in scoring at 11.8 points and is second in rebounding at 6.0 per game.  Guillozet has 49 field goals made for the year with 21 triples for third on the team.
 
As a team, the Blazers are shooting .490 from the field on 402 of 821, while going 139 of 335 from beyond the arc (.415) and 176 of 236 from the line (.746).  VSU is averaging 37.8 rebounds per game, while recording 229 assists, 135 turnovers, 36 blocks and 105 steals.  The Blazers are averaging 93.2 points per game. Conversely, the team is allowing teams to shoot at a .482 clip on 354 of 734, while the opposition is 75 of 215 from beyond the arc (.349) and 139 of 196 from the line (.709).  The opponents are averaging 34.4 rebounds per game, have 157 assists, 201 turnovers, 29 blocks and 61 steals, while scoring 76.8 points per game.
 
Following the two games, the Blazers return to the road at Mississippi College and at Delta State Jan. 10-12, before returning home for West Georgia and Shorter on Jan. 17-19.