JACKSON, TENN. – The Valdosta State Blazers lost a closely contested contest at Union on Sunday evening, falling 84-76. Graduate Student LaTrell Tate scored a season high 20 points on 7-15 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.
 
The Valdosta State Blazers dropped to 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the GSC. Meanwhile, Union improved to 5-5 overall and 2-4 in GSC play.
 
Graduate student LaTrell Tate was the hot hand early for the Blazers, scoring seven quick points in the first six minutes as he was scoring on the perimeter with ease, and then dropping a dime to driving Blazer as senior Lee Flenor as he finished it end to send Valdosta State to the first media timeout, with VSU leading UU 14-13.
 
Union came out of the break firing, going on a long 12-2 run over four minutes and 23 seconds to take a 23-16 lead with senior Mike Isler heading to the charity stripe. The Albany, Ga. native sunk both shots to get the Blazers within five with eight and a half minutes remaining in the half.
 
A quick stop on the other end led to a three pointer from junior Braxton Williams, where the Bulldogs countered back with a three of their own to keep the lead at five heading into the under eight media break. Union came out of the media break with two quick threes, forcing Head Coach Mike Helfer to call a timeout with UU leading VSU 32-21 with 7:11 left in the first half.
 
Graduate student Jay Rucker came out of the break with aggression, spinning around the Union defender for an "and-one" where he converted the free throw to cut the deficit to nine. The Blazer offense went quiet after that, going scoreless for two and a half minutes en route to a 9-0 run from the Bulldogs to extend their lead to 17 with 4:13 left in half number one.
 
Isler was able to knock down a free throw to stop the scoreless streak, and Braxton Williams was able to get loose on a steal that led to an easy deuce on the other end. Union came back with a layup on the other end to hold the lead at 16 heading into the final media timeout of the half. Isler cleaned up a layup after a late shot clock three from Union to send Valdosta State into the break trailing the Bulldogs 48-31.
 
Union shot 8-22 from beyond the arc in the first half, while Valdosta State shot just 2-9. The Blazers committed six turnovers to the Bulldogs three, Tate led VSU in scoring, chipping in nine first half points while Williams chipped in seven points off the bench.
 
Former Bulldog J.C. Clausi started things for the Blazers in the second half, making a driving right-handed layup over a defender, as VSU trailed 52-34. A quick stop on the other end led to a wide open LaTrell Tate three, his second of the night. Union hit a three of their own to keep the lead at 18 with 16:05 remaining.
 
Tate came out of the media timeout with a tough pullup jumper over two Bulldog defenders as he continued to will his way. A turnover from the Valdosta State resulted in an "and-one" from Union to keep VSU away, leading by 17 with 14 minutes remaining.
 
A quick 8-0 run from UU prompted a VSU timeout, with the Bulldogs leading 67-43 with 12:51 remaining.
 
After both teams were trading baskets, junior Caden Boser hit a top of the key three off an assist from Tate to cut into the Bulldog lead. A strong defensive stand led to another Blazer assist, this time a pass from graduate student Sam Martin to a wide-open Lee Flenor down on the block. Valdosta State defense held steady, as Braxton Williams was able to get a wide open three-point look, where he knocked it and forced a Union timeout with VSU trailing 72-59 with 8:20 left in the game.
 
The Blazers stayed hot out of the break, with Martin swiping the ball away that lead to an Isler "and-one", as Valdosta State cut the deficit to 10 points. Back-to-back Blazer turnovers hurt VSU, as one resulted to a Union layup, increasing the lead to 12 with 5:54 left. Williams went down on the other end of the floor and knocked home a triple, as VSU brought the game to single digits with 5:45 remaining, the Bulldogs leading 74-65. A quick Union layup grew the lead to 11 and Valdosta State started to run out of time. A quick Valdosta State inbound turnover led to a dunk from Boser to keep the game within reach, as VSU headed into the final media timeout trailing the Bulldogs 78-67.
 
A second chance jumper from UU increased the lead to 13. Williams went down a knocked down a contested three to get it to 10 points with 90 ticks left on the clock, a stop and a second chance bucket from Rucker had the Blazers down eight with 1:02 remaining. Helfer quickly called a timeout to get his defense set.
 
VSU forced a turnover on the inbound, and Boser was able to clean it up to cut it to six with 49.2 left, sending the Bulldogs to the line for a couple of free throws. After a pair of missed free throws, VSU got charged with a loose ball foul, sending UU back to the line. Union knocked both down, increasing the led to eight. Valdosta State's second half surge was not enough, as the Blazers fell to the Bulldogs, 84-76.
 
Valdosta State will have a break for the holidays, as they will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. as VSU hosts West Florida at The Complex.
 
For all stats, news, and updates regarding Valdosta State men's basketball, please visit vstateblazers.com