LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 7 Valdosta State men's basketball team dropped a 105-94 decision at No. 24 Florida Southern Saturday evening in the final game of the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic.  VSU fell to 6-2 on the year, while Florida Southern improved to 6-1.
 
The Blazers were led by a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds from senior Darrell Jones, on 10 of 17 from the field and 3 of 5 from range along with two free throws, leading four Blazers in double figures, but struggles at the free throw line proved to be costly as VSU was just 11 of 23 from the charity stripe for the game.  
 
Along with Jones, who tallied his fifth double-double of the season in eight games, senior Bryce Smith tallied 19 points, five rebounds and two blocks.  Sophomore Imoras Agee had 16 points with three assists and senior Clay Guillozet had 15 points and eight rebounds for four starters in double figures. 
 
Florida Southern countered with six players in double figures led by 28 points from Brett Hanson on 11 of 22 from the field and E.J. Dambreville added a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Jair Rodgers scored 22 points and a team-high five assists.
 
VSU shot 44.3 percent for the game on 35 of 79 and was 13 of 34 from range, but went just 11 of 23 from the line for 47.8 percent.  FSC was 37 of 75 from the field, 12 of 29 from distance and 19 of 23 from the line. 
 
The Mocs led by as many as 18 in the second half and FSC held a 20-6 lead in points off turnovers as VSU had 11 miscues to nine for the Mocs.  
 
VSU built a six-point advantage at 40-34 with 4:31 left in the first half in a tight contest where neither team garnered much of an advantage through the first 15 minutes.  A 16-3 run by the Mocs followed as they finished the half with a 50-43 lead.  
 
The Blazers opened the second half with a 9-4 run to pull within 54-52 with 17:11 left on a triple from Jones.  Florida Southern then had another big run, this time for a 25-9 spurt capped with a triple from Rodgers with 9:57 left.  
 
VSU never quit and pulled within ten on an Agee trey with 5:41 left at 86-76, but the Blazers were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.  
 
The road-weary Blazers have just over weeks off as they return home to host Alabama Huntsville and Lee University on Dec. 15 and Dec. 17, respectively, at The Complex, along with a Dec. 19 home date against Thomas University.