ATLANTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Men's basketball team dropped their second game of the season 77-64 on Saturday night versus Clark Atlanta at L.S. Epps Gym in Atlanta, Ga.
 
The game started off similar to Friday's, with the Blazers struggling to get it going early, as Clark Atlanta got off to 9-0 lead until graduate student LaTrell Tate hit a jumper to cut the deficit to seven with 16:03 left in the half. The Panthers came right back and hit a three a few seconds later to make the score 12-2.
 
Both teams continued to battle back and forth until junior Braxton Williams went on a 5-0 scoring run, knocking down a three and a pair of free throws to decrease the deficit to six with 11:52 remaining in the half. After a quick response from Clark Atlanta, graduate student J.C. Clausi hit a three to score his first basket as a Blazer.
 
The Blazers shot 7-26 from the field in the first half compared to Clark Atlanta shooting 15-33. With Clark Atlanta leading 37-26 heading into the break.
 
Valdosta State came out of the break playing aggressive, going on a 6-2 run that was capped off by a layup from senior Lee Flenor. The Panthers came right back on a run of their own, going a 10-0 run over a minute and a half period to balloon the lead to 17 with 17:05 remaining in the game.
 
Turnovers continued to be costly, as the Blazers committed 18 turnovers in the game that resulted in 18 Panther points.
 
Junior Caden Boser continued to will his way in the paint, getting to the line eight times, and knocking down seven of them as he went on to score a team high 15 points.
 
Senior guard Mike Isler was trying to keep Valdosta State in the game, scoring seven of his 11 points in the second half as he made three jumpers in the paint, capped off by an "and-one" with 5:16 left.
 
The Blazers were never able to get within striking distance in the second half, as VSU could never recover from the Panthers strong start, falling 77-64.
 
Up next, the Blazers come back to Titletown for their home opener versus Clinton College on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
 
All updates can be found on vstateblazers.com