VALDOSTA, Ga. – With all five starters in double figures, the Valdosta State men's basketball team outscored visiting Delta State 41-28 in the second half for a 90-74 victory Saturday afternoon at The Complex.  VSU senior Beau Justice led all scorers with 27 points and eight assists.  VSU notched its 20^thwin of the season with the victory and now stands at 20-5 overall and 13-4 in Gulf South Conference play.  
 
VSU shot 56.1 percent for the game on 32 of 57, while going 15 of 27 from beyond the arc and 11 of 15 from the line.  Justice was 9 of 13 from the field with four triples and 5 of 5 from the line.  Senior Winston Morgan drained five 3-pointers in the opening half for 15 points, while junior Clay Guillozet added 14 points, four assists and seven rebounds.  Senior Desmond DeRamus added 13 points and six assists, while senior Greg Zuppas added 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Statesmen (15-10, 11-7 GSC) shot 43.5 percent for the game on 27 of 62, but opened the game 17 of 33 for 51.5 percent in the first half.  DSU was just 10 of 29 in the second half and started the final stanza 3 of 13 from the field as it was outscored 19-6 to open the second half after VSU led 49-46 at halftime.  Rasheide Bell had 21 points to lead DSU and four players in double figures.  
 
Morgan began the game with three-straight triples for the Blazers as they opened an 11-4 lead in front of 2,202 fans who were in attendance on Hall of Fame Weekend.  Earlier in the day, VSU enshrined its 23^rdHall of Fame Class at the Hall of Fame Brunch prior to the basketball games.  Click the link at the top of this page for information on the 2019 VSU Athletic Hall of Fam class.  
 
VSU stretched the lead to as many as 12 through the first seven minutes of the contest.  However, the Statesmen continued to fight and cut the deficit to two capped with two free throws from Bell for a 27-25 VSU lead with 9:53 left.  Morgan again had the answer with a triple as the Blazers quickly stretched the lead back to double digits.
 
DSU answered back, once again, cutting the deficit to one on three occasions and then a triple from Brett Warner gave DSU its first lead of the game at 44-42 with 2:28 left in the half. VSU closed the first half on a 7-2 run capped with two free throws from Justice for a 49-46 lead at intermission.
 
The Statesmen scored the first four points of the second half, but a triple from DeRamus ended the run as it began a 17-0 run by the Blazers for a 66-50 lead with 13:05 left.   Delta State would cut the deficit back to 11-13, but VSU would have the answer each time as it swelled the lead to 21 late in the game on a triple from Justice and settled for the 90-74 victory.  
 
VSU returns to action next week as it travels to West Florida and West Alabama for the final regular season road trip.  The Blazers then return home to host Auburn Montgomery at The Complex on Feb. 28 for Senior Night.