VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball squad will look to continue their strong play at home, as the Blazers (7-2, 2-1 GSC) host a pair of teams from the Volunteer State to wrap up play for the 2024 calander year. On Thursday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m., VSU welcomes GSC newcomer Trevecca Nazarene (7-3, 2-2 GSC) in their first ever meeting. Valdosta State will then host a familiar foe in Lee University (4-4, 0-4 GSC) on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m.
 
Both games will be streamed on FloCollege with Spencer Vanhorn on the call while audio streaming can be found on 94.3 FM & 1150 AM Fox Sports Valdosta with Mike Chason calling both contests.
 
Valdosta State will wrap-up their three game homestand this weekend, as they are coming off a thrilling 90-88 win over the West Florida Argonauts on Sunday evening thanks to a clutch go-ahead three pointer from senior Braxton Williams with 19 seconds left to seal the win. Senior Carlos Hart led all scorers with 22 points and tied junior MJ Jones with four steals. Hart leads the team in scoring with 19.4 points a contest on .510/.263/.824 shooting splits. Jones continues to play sturdy for VSU, as the guard is averaging 8.4 points while leading the team in steals with 22.
 
Head coach Mike Helfer's offense continues to stay strong, as they ranked first in the conference and eighth nationally in scoring offense with 94.9 a night. The defense to offense has been the bread and butter for Helfer's squad, as they ranked second in the nation in fastbreak points at 28.89 while recording 12.6 steals per game, seventh nationally. The aggressive playstyle has paid dividends, as VSU is attempting 26.2 free throws per contest while making 20.7 for a .788 clip which are ranked top 15 across Division II.
 
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, The Trevecca Nazarene Trojans will be playing Valdosta State for the first time ever, as TNU joins the Gulf South Conference from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference where they were a founding member of the conference back in 2012 when the school transitioned from NAIA to Division II.
 
The Trojans enter this clash with the Blazers holding an overall record of 7-3 while they are 2-2 in GSC play early on, as they most recently downed West Alabama by a score of 64-51 on Saturday, Dec. 14. TNU is led by second year head coach Kevin Carroll, who holds a record of 23-16 during his time in Nashville. Prior to Trevecca Nazarene, Carroll was the assistant coach at Lipscomb University which is also located in Nashville. Before that, Carroll was the head coach at Maryville University-St. Louis from 2010-2017, where he accumulated an overall record of 87-112. As a team, TNU is ranked third in conference in scoring at 83.8 points per contest on .461 from the floor, .339 from deep, and .750 from the line. Defensively, the Trojans are holding opponents to 71.0 PPG on .413 from the floor, .301 from deep, and .729 from the line. Carroll's team emphasizes rebounding, as they rank second the conference in rebounds per game at 39.6 per night.
 
Individually, Jalen Page has brought his dominance from the GMAC to the GSC, as the guard ranks third in the conference in scoring at 20.3 points a night on .421 from the floor, .354 from deep, and .943 from the charity stripe. He is currently ranked second in the conference in three pointers made per game at 3.1 per contest on 8.8 attempts. He is also ranked second in the team in rebounds, as he is hauling in 5.6 per contest on 50 total for the year. Guard Mateo Esmerlado has been one of the top playmakers in the conference, as he is ranked first in assists per game at 5.7 a night while committing 23 total turnovers. Esmerlado is also lethal from the line, as the sophomore is 29 of 30 from the line for a .967 clip which is second in the nation. Jikari Johnson is also one of the top scorers in the GSC, as the guard is putting up 18.4 points per night which is good for seventh in the conference. Johnson currently leads the team in steals with a total of 14 while also recording nine blocks in ten starts.
 
Following Thursday's matchup, Valdosta State will host Lee University on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. in a battle of the embers. Lee holds the all-time series lead 10-9 as they have won the last three meetings over Valdosta State.
 
Lee is led by ninth year head coach Bubba Smith, who holds a record of 143-86 during his time in Cleveland, Tenn. Prior to the Flames, Smith was the head coach at DIII Sewanee and Hampden-Sydney for a career record of 335-241 in 22 total seasons of head coaching experience. Smith's offense is averaging 74.5 PPG on .491 from the floor, .370 from deep, and .742 from the line. Defensively, Lee is allowing 70.4 a night on .464/.349/.718 shooting splits. The Flames are currently winless in GSC play after starting the year out 4-0 in non-conference play.
 
Individually, Lee is led in scoring by guard Giancarlo Valdez, who is averaging 14.1 points per game on .588 from the floor, .423 from deep, and .759 from the line. Valdez is also leading the team in assists with 28 total and steals with nine.
 
Valdosta State will take the rest of the calander year for holiday break before they hit the road to open 2025 with a trip to Mississippi to play Mississippi College on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET before a trip to Delta State on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. ET.