VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team squeaked out a win over the gritty Union Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon at The Complex, 86-79. Graduate student LaTrell Tate and senior Mike Isler each put up 25 points, as it was the most points both players had scored since arriving in Titletown.
 
For Isler, he finished with 25 points along with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and also matched a career-high in steals with four. The Albany, Ga. native was aggressive getting inside, shooting 9-18 from the floor and 7-10 from the line.
 
As for Tate, he was getting to his spot time and time again, as the former West Florida product shot 8-15 from the floor, 2-3 from three, and 7-9 from the charity stripe. Tate recorded two steals and took excellent care of the ball, not turning it over in 39 minutes of action.
 
Two other players scored in double figures for VSU, as senior Lee Flenor and junior Caden Boser scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Graduate student Jay Rucker was aggressive yet again defensively, hauling in 11 boards while swatting two shots and recording three steals.
 
As a team, Valdosta State shot 41.8% from the floor and converted 25 of their 36 free throw attempts for a clip of .694. It was the most free throws attempted in a game since Jan. 6 versus Auburn Montgomery.
 
Defensively, the Blazers were flying around, forcing 20 Union turnovers, and holding the Bulldogs to 29-69 from the field and 7-29 from beyond the arc. The fast-paced defense resulted in a multitude of fast break chances, as VSU scored 27 points on the break.
 
Caden Boser kicked things off for Valdosta State with a left corner three off the assist from Flenor to make it 3-2 Blazers early. The Bulldogs came right back with a three pointer of their own from Layne Sarver to make it 5-3 Union. After an empty VSU possession, UU came back with another three, this time from Ahmad Johnson, who finished with 19 points off the bench, to grow the lead to five with 15:58 left in the half.
 
Both teams were trading baskets until Jay Rucker joined the three party on another assist from Flenor to make it 13-11 in favor of Union. Ahmad Johnson continued his first half of terror, knocking in a jumper and a forced shot from VSU allowed for another easy bucket for the Bulldogs, prompting head coach Mike Helfer to call a quick 30 second timeout with 10:54 left in the half, trailing 21-13.
 
Out of the timeout, LaTrell Tate decided to take over, going on a solo 7-1 run capped off by a three to trim the deficit to one with 8:41 left in the first half. The Bulldogs responded yet again, going on a 10-1 run over a two-and-a-half-minute stretch to grow the lead to 10 points, the largest of the game.
 
The Blazers trimmed into the Bulldog lead quickly off a quick jumper from Tate and a pair of free throws to cut it to six. The free throws started to pile up for VSU, as Isler knocked home four free throws and junior Braxton Williams knocked home a pair to make it a one-point game with 2:08 left in the half. Heading into the break, The Bulldogs led the Blazers 41-38.
 
Entering the second half, Mike Isler made it his mission to propel the Blazers to victory, attacking the paint at will to force the Bulldogs into foul trouble and give his other teammates opportunities due to the collapsing defense.
 
LaTrell Tate was able to tie the game up at 49 apiece with a pair of free throws. A layup on the other end from Union's Justin Debuck gave them the lead once again, but a steal from Mike Isler led to a Jay Rucker layup and forced a quick Bulldog timeout. Out of the break, Mike Isler got one to go inside and a quick steal from Flenor led to an Isler "and-one" to give VSU a three-point lead. Isler returned the favor, poking the ball away from Jordan Pyke and throwing it ahead to Flenor who would get fouled and knock down two free throws. With 11:20 remaining, Valdosta State was leading 58-53.
 
The Bulldogs kept trading baskets with the Blazers, but LaTrell Tate showed the rival GSC team what he could do, getting to his signature pull-up jumper in transition on the coast-to-coast bucket. After a pair of made free throws from Union and one from Valdosta State, Devaki Garr knocked home a trey ball for Union to make it a one-point game with 7:58 left. Tate and Isler continued to do what they do, going on a quick 5-0 run to bring the lead up to six as the Bulldogs needed a run to win this game.
 
It started to become a physical game, as both teams were in the double bonus with just under six minutes remaining. After a free throw from Union, Isler got two quick buckets inside to give Valdosta State a 76-68, forcing Union to call a timeout with 4:16 remaining.
 
Valdosta State kept bullying inside, as Lee Flenor was getting to the line whenever he wanted, and Union couldn't keep up. The Blazers wouldn't let the Bulldogs get any closer than five points, finishing the night with an 86-79 victory.
 
The Blazers hit the road, playing three straight away from Valdosta, Ga. kicking it off with a trip to Pensacola, Fla. to take on West Florida on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.