VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers opened up the 2024-25 campaign with a bang, as VSU defeated Fort Valley State 106-88 on Friday night at The Complex. The Blazers improved to 1-0 on the year while the Wildcats dropped to 0-1.
 
The offseason was a story of fresh faces, as VSU welcomed ten fresh faces team, and they took no time to produce. Junior Carlos Hart was the main headliner, as the transfer from the University of New Orleans scored a game high 26 points on 16-20 from the charity stripe. Carlos' 16 made free-throws tied Tyrone Curnell (2009) for the most made in a game in Blazer basketball history.
 
Friday night's win extended the active winning streak to six against Fort Valley State and 22-2 all-time. The victory also improved head coach Mike Helfer to 16-4 on season openers during his time in Titletown.
 
Graduate student JC Clausi opened 2024-25 with a strip and score to put VSU up 2-0 within the first 30 seconds. Things didn't stop there, as back to back tip ins by the Blazers extended their lead to 8-0. Junior Ethan Pires swiped the ball away and stepped into a wide open three to give the Blazers a 15-0 advantage that had the Blazer faithful on their feet. For the evening, Valdosta State recorded 16 steals while forcing 25 Wildcat turnovers.
 
Head coach Mike Helfer dialed up a full-court press for the night as VSU kept pouring it on, leading 21-4 with 13:44 left in the first half.  Another breakaway for the Blazers ended in a flush by Carlos Hart as The Complex was rocking early-on. Valdosta State grew the lead to 25 on a dunk by junior LaDarrius Chigano off another forced turnover with 8:46 remaining in half number one. For the game, VSU had 11 players play five or more minutes, as everyone who checked into the game was a part of the gameplan. Senior Braxton Williams had himself a strong start to the year, as he finished the night with 14 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block.
 
The Blazers led by as many as 31 points in the first half, as they shot 21-49 from the field and 13-20 from the charity stripe. Speed continued to be the main theme in half number one as each team scored six points in the span of 75 seconds, as the full-court press allowed for easy buckets on both sides. The Wildcats ended the first half on an 8-0 run as the Blazers led 59-35 at the break.
 
The Wildcats came out in the second half with a mission to win this game, as they started out on a quick 9-1 run to cut the deficit to 16 and force a Blazer timeout with 18:08 remaining. A three pointer by Braxton Williams followed by a turnaround jumper from junior Drew Mills grew the lead back to 21, as VSU led 65-44.
 
Over the next 2:29, Fort Valley State would go on a 13-0 run to make it an eight point game with 14:29 left in the game. A much needed fastbreak layup from junior guard MJ Jones brought the Blazer lead back to ten, leading 67-57. Both teams were battling to the under 12 media timeout, as the red and black were up 77-61 at the break.
 
Coming out of the Under 12 timeout, Valdosta State pulled away with a 9-0 run to make a comeback insurmountable for Fort Valley State. The Blazers would coast the rest of the of the way with a 106-88 victory on a fast-paced Friday night.
 
For the evening, VSU scored 47 fast break points on 25 forced turnovers. Valdosta State would turn those turnovers into 34 points off of them compared to Fort Valley State's 17. Four blazers recorded three steals as MJ Jones, JC Clausi, Carlos Hart, and Ethan Pires were active in the passing lanes all night.
 
Valdosta State has a quick turnaround, and they host Clark Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. at The Complex.