VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind a career-high 30 points from junior
Burke Putnam, the Valdosta State men's basketball team defeated Thomas University 98-64 Thursday evening at The Complex in the Blazers' final game of the 2019 portion of the schedule.
Putnam was on fire as he scored 20 points in the first half and finished with 30, going 12 of 20 from the field, 4 of 9 from beyond the arc and 2 of 2 from the line. He had four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. Sophomore
Cam Hamilton finished with 20 points, including a career-high six triples in nine attempts and 14 points in the second half alone. Senior
Darrell Jones had 18 points and seven rebounds, while senior
Bryce Smith missed a double-double by one point with nine points and ten rebounds.
The Blazers (8-3) went 39 of 82 from the field for 47.6 percent, while going 14 of 36 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 from the line. VSU pulled down 45 rebounds, including 16 on the offensive end and forced 20 turnovers leading to a 26-8 lead in points off turnovers.
Thomas was led by 13 points from Joshua Scott and Kadeem Webb added 12 points off the bench – all on threes. TU shot 37.9 percent on 22 of 58, while going 6 of 25 from beyond the arc and was 14 of 18 from the line.
The Night Hawks took their final lead of the game at 10-9 on a layup from Trint Bryant as VSU quickly went on a 15-0 run for a 24-10 lead capped with a triple from Putnam with 11:31 left in the first half. Encompassing the 15-0 run from the 14:41 mark when VSU trailed 10-9, the Blazers used a 24-4 run over the next seven minutes for a 33-14 lead with 7:20 left to take complete command of the game.
Late in the half, Hamilton hit a trey for a 49-20 lead as the Blazers settled for a 49-22 lead at intermission.
Webb buried a triple for a 66-45 score with 11:28 left in the contest as it was as close as Thomas would get, as Burke had a tip-in and later Jones buried a triple for an 83-53 lead with 6:44 left. Putnam hit his final trey with 1:01 left for a 98-62 lead and the largest margin of the game at 36 points.
VSU opens the 2020 season, returning to Gulf South Conference play on Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. versus rival West Florida at The Complex.
