VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Blazer men's basketball team will host the Knights of Middle Georgia on Monday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. at The Complex. Valdosta State enters this matchup with a record of 2-1 while Middle Georgia enters Titletown with a 6-1 record and winners of four straight.
 
Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the men's basketball schedule page.  The game will be broadcast on 94.3 WJEM FM and 1150 AM and online at www.foxsportsvaldosta.com with Mike Chason having the call.
 
The Blazers suffered their first loss of the season to Morehouse College on Tuesday night by a score of 84-80. The senior tandem of Braxton Williams and Carlos Hart continued their strong start to the season by combining for 47 points on 15-26 from the floor. On the season, Carlos Hart is currently ranked third in the GSC in scoring as he is averaging 21.7 points a night. Braxton Williams is close behind, as the Thomasville, Ala. native is putting up 20.3 per game, fifth in the GSC.
 
As a team, the Blazers are led by head coach Mike Helfer, who is in his 20^th season at the helm of the program. He holds a record of 363-192 in Valdosta while boasting a career record of 549-275. Helfer's offense has been devastating for opposing defenses early on, as VSU is averaging 101.7 a game which is the best in the GSC and eighth best in the nation. This season, the Blazers have transitioned to a full-court press, which has resulted in them forcing 24 turnovers a night which ranks fourth in the country.
 
Middle Georgia traveling to Valdosta after back-to-back nail biting SSAC games, as the Knights defeated Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Thursday night 78-73 before they defeated Thomas University on Saturday night by a score of 72-70. MGA is a part of the Southern States Athletics Conference which is affiliated with the NAIA. In the fall of 2025, the Knights will transition to Division II where they will join the Peach Belt Conference.
 
Middle Georgia is led by head coach Scott Moe, who is currently in his 11^th season as the head coach and entered this season with a record of 134-137 since the Knights joined the NAIA. As a team, Moe's offense is putting up 77.6 points a night while holding opponents to 65.6 per contest on .413 from the field and .344 from distance. Individually, Middle Georgia has four players averaging 11 or more points a night, as they are led by junior forward Trashawn Wilson, who is averaging 15.4 PPG after consecutive 20 point games. Fellow junior Milique Smith is a walking double double, as the forward is averaging 12.4 points per game on .542 from the floor while hauling in 9.0 rebounds a game.
 
Following Monday night's contest, the Blazers will hit the road for their first test away from The Complex, as they will take on Morehouse College for a second time in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. before returning back to Titletown to host Thomas University on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.