PENSACOLA, Fla. – Behind a 58.6 field goal percentage and a 76.9 free-throw percentage, the Valdosta State men's basketball team posted an 85-58 victory over Fort Valley State in the Gulf South/ Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Regional Challenge in Pensacola, Fla., Saturday night for its first victory of the season. The Blazers improved to 1-2 on the year while, the Wildcats fell to 0-1.  

The Blazers went 34 of 58 from the field, 7 of 20 from beyond the arc for a 35 three-point percentage, and 10 of 13 from the free-throw line. The Blazers also recorded two blocks, 10 steals and 34 rebounds, including seven offensive while forcing FVSU into 18 turnovers.  

Senior guard Jacolbey Owens posted a team-high 23 points, eight assists and was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game. Junior forward Jay Rucker went 8 of 10 from the field and 1 of 1 from beyond the arc for 18 points in addition to two thefts, three assists and five rebounds. Graduate guard Ryan Black posted 15 points, going 5 of 11 from the field and 5 of 11 from beyond the arc while seniors Mohamed Fofana and Maurice Gordon each had a team-high six rebounds as Fofana posted 14 points and Gordon had five.  

For FVSU, the Wildcats were 23 of 57 from the field and 6 of 17 from beyond the arc for a 40.4 field-goal percentage and a 35.3 three-point percentage, respectively. The team went just 6 of 16 from the free-throw line for a 37.5 free-throw percentage along with three thefts and 33 rebounds.  

Myson Lowe had a team-high 16 points for FVSU, going 6 of 9 from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc while Rob Kendrick posted a team-high six rebounds. Four Wildcats each added one assist while three more Wildcats had three steals each.  

The Wildcats jumped to a quick 5-3 lead before a huge dunk by Rucker brought the Blazers within two, 5-7. Another dunk by Fofana allowed the Blazers to tie the game at 11 before the Blazers went on a 7-0 run to build a 33-22 lead with 6:41 left in the half. 

Two minutes later, a layup from Rucker allowed the Blazers to build a 12-point lead, 37-25, but FVSU battled back to come within six, 37-31 from a jumper by Mitchell Pierre.  After a final free-throw from the Wildcats, a layup and a trey from Owens brought the Blazers to the locker room leading 41-32.  

In the first half, the Blazers shot 18 of 30 from the field and 5 of 13 from beyond the arc for a 60 field-goal percentage and a 38.5 three-point percentage. VSU also added 19 rebounds, including six offensive, 12 assists and four thefts. The Blazers recorded eight points off turnovers, six second-chance points, 16 bench points and four fast-break points.  

For FVSU, the Wildcats went 14 of 26 from the field and 3 of 8 from beyond the arc for a 53.85 field goal percentage and a 37.5 three-point percentage. The team was 1 of 6 from the free-throw line for a 16.67 free-throw percentage and added four points off turnovers, four second-chance points, 11 bench points and two fast-break points.  

Out of the locker room, Owens came up with a huge dunk to force a 14-point lead, 46-32. The Blazers then went on a 4-0 run from a layup from Owens and another layup from Fofana for a 50-36 lead with 16:25 left in the game.  

In the middle of the half, the Blazers went on a 12-point run sparked by a pair of free throws by Owen to build a dominating 67-45 lead. After a trey from the Wildcats to bring FVSU within 74-52, the Blazers went on a 6-0 run to push the lead to 80-52 with three minutes left.  

With 50 seconds left, the Blazers saw their biggest lead of the game from a layup by freshman JJ Williams, 85-55. The Wildcats ended the game with three made free throws, cutting the margin to 85-58.  

The Blazers shot 16 of 28 from the field, 2 of 7 from beyond the arc and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in the second half. VSU had 16 points off turnovers, five bench points, and 12 fast-break points.  

FVSU ended the second half shooting 9 of 31 from the field and 3 of 9 from beyond the arc in addition to going 5 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Wildcats added five points off turnovers, 10 second-chance points, 13 bench points and four fast-break points. 

The Blazers are back in action on Sunday, taking on Clark Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. ET, to round out the GSC/SIAC Regional Challenge in Pensacola. VSU then will open Gulf South Conference play and the 2022-2023 home slate on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., against Lee inside The Complex.