VALDOSTA, Ga. -  The Valdosta State men's basketball team outscored visiting Auburn Montgomery 51-42 in the second half for a 95-83, hard-fought victory Saturday afternoon on Hall of Fame Weekend.  The Blazers won their eighth-straight game, improving to 15-3 overall and 9-2 in Gulf South Conference play.  Junior Burke Putnam had a game-high 26 points to lead four Blazer starters in double figures.
 
VSU senior Darrell Jones added 19 points on 7 of 13 from the field and 5 of 6 from the line, while senior Bryce Smith had 17 points and three blocks in the contest and sophomore Imoras Agee added 11 points.  Senior Clay Guillozet had eight points, thee steal and 11 rebounds. 
 
The Blazers, who trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, rallied over the final ten minutes of the half, using a 20-11 run for a 37-34 lead with 5:26 remaining.  AUM regained the lead with a 6-0 run, but sophomore Imoras Agee tied the game for the first time in the half with two charity tosses for a 39-39 score with 2:10 remaining.  
 
Guillozet hit two free and, with 33 seconds left, redshirt freshman Jakari Gallon buried two more as VSU led 44-41 at intermission.  VSU shot 15 of 36 from the field for 41.7 percent, while going 3 of 10 from range and 11 of 17 from the line in the first half.  AUM shot 15 of 41 from the field for 36.6 percent, while going 3 of 7 from beyond the arc and 8 of 9 from the line.  
 
Putnam was the star of the half for the Blazers as he was 5 of 7 from the field with one triple and two free throws in 17 minutes.  No Warhawk was in double figures in the first half.  
 
At halftime of the game, VSU honored its 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame Class.  The 24^th induction class included;  Mark Catano (Football, 1982-1983); Dominique Rothlaender (Women's Tennis, 2007-2010); York Kurinsky (Football, 1992-1993); Morgan Johnson Faulk (Softball, 2009-2013); Larry Dean (Football, 2007-2010); Jordan Helton Cary (Women's Cross Country, 2008-2011); Charles Cooper (Women's Basketball Coach, 1982-1994) and Jean Snyder (Supporter).  
 
VSU pushed the lead to seven in the first four minutes of the second half capped on a huge dunk from Putnam for a 55-48 lead with 16:23 left.  AUM pulled within one, moments later and then took the lead on a layup from Maharrith Jackson at 59-57 with 12:26 left.
 
Gallon had a huge dunk tying the game for the seventh time and Jones scored inside giving VSU the lead back at 61-59 with 11:20 left.  The Warhawks kept chipping away and pulled within 70-69 with 8:40 remaining, but Putnam came up with a huge trey at the other end for a 73-69 advantage, beginning a 10-2 run to take command of the game.  
 
The Warhaws (9-10, 4-7 GSC) pulled within nine at 92-83 with 56 seconds left, but it was as close as they would get with VSU winning 95-83.  The 95 points marked the fifth-straight game of scoring 90 or more points and the 11^th this season.
 
AUM finished with four players in double figures and shot 42.3 percent for the game on 30 of 71, while it was 7 of 14 from range and 16 of 17 from the line.  Carlos Bell had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team. 
 
The Blazers shot 33 of 70 from the field for 47.1 percent and were 18 of 34 from the field in the second half.  VSU was 7 of 21 from range and 22 of 30 from the line, while recording nine blocks in the contest.  
 
VSU returns to action on Feb. 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Montevallo.