VALDOSTA, Ga. – The West Alabama Tigers put a stop to the Valdosta State Blazers' four game winning streak, defeating them 77-62 on Thursday night at The Complex. Valdosta State dropped to 12-15 (9-14 GSC) while West Alabama improved to 18-9 (15-8 GSC).
 
Thaddeus Williams was a man on a mission for the Tigers, as the forward recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. He wasn't the only Tiger to record a double-double as Terry Durham has 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for UWA. For VSU, four players scored in double figures as Lee Flenor led the way with 16 points and six rebounds.
 
Things started out slow, as both teams were held scoreless until junior Braxton Williams muscled one inside to give VSU a 2-0 lead. UWA's Jaylen Lemons came right back with a layup of his own to tie it up at two. Graduate student Jay Rucker continued his hot shooting streak, knocking home a three to take a 6-5 lead. West Alabama retaliated with five straight points to jump out to a 9-8 lead. The Tigers were aggressive on the glass, grabbing three offensive rebounds early as they led 11-8 at the first media break.
 
Coming out of the break, an empty VSU possession led to a wide-open three-point jumper for UWA's Caleb McGill, who sprayed it home to grow the lead to six. Braxton Williams continued to battle inside, as he finished strong for his fifth point of the night to cut the deficit to four heading into break number two.
 
Another second chance bucket resulted in an "and-one" for West Alabama's Terry Durham, who completed the three-point play as the Tigers led 19-12 with 10:30 left in the half. A post hook from junior Caden Boser brought the game back to five. A quick stop got the Blazers out in transition, where senior Mike Isler dropped it off to fellow senior Lee Flenor for the deuce inside. Boser got another one to roll in on the right block as he got it to a one possession game with 5:30 left in the half. Jay Rucker got loose in transition and laid one in as VSU trailed 24-23 as we approached the next media timeout. Rucker then swatted the ball into the third row the next possession, as West Alabama was up 26-23 with 3:49 left in half number one.
 
Out of the timeout, West Alabama hit two straight threes on the right wing as they all of a sudden were up nine. Graduate student LaTrell Tate attempted slow the Tigers down with a trey ball as the Blazers trailed 32-26. UWA shot right back with a 5-0 run to heading into the locker rooms up 37-26 over VSU.
 
In the first half, Valdosta State shot 11-27 from the floor for a .407 clip while West Alabama shot 14-31 for a .452 clip. The Blazers had five players make two field goals, as Braxton Williams led the team in scoring with six points. West Alabama was aggressive on the glass, grabbing seven offensive rebounds for nine second chance points.
 
Braxton Williams started the second half the same way he started the first with a bucket inside for his third field goal of the night. Caden Boser threaded the needle between two West Alabama defender to Lee Flenor, who finished strong in the paint. Heading into the under 16 timeout, the Blazers trailed 44-37.
 
Braxton Williams scored his sixth point of the second half inside as it was a five-point game. Two free throws from UWA's Terry Durham had them up 46-39 with 14:14 left in the contest. LaTrell Tate got to his signature elbow jumper to bring it back as five, as West Alabama kept Valdosta State away with two more in the paint. Flenor's ninth point of the second half brought it to a one possession game. Tough shots from the Tigers brought it back to a seven-point lead until Lee Flenor got out in transition and got the hoop and the harm for a three-point play as VSU trailed 54-50 with 10:02 left in the game.
 
West Alabama continued to do what they have done all night and responded with a 10-0 run to grow jump up 64-50 heading into the eight-minute media timeout. Things went quiet on both ends until a three from LaTrell Tate cut it to 12 and head coach Mike Helfer called a timeout with 5:19 remaining.  
 
The West Alabama Tigers would cruise the rest of the night and would go on to defeat the Valdosta State Blazers on Thursday, 77-62.
 
Up next, Valdosta State welcomes Alabama Huntsville into town for senior night and the last regular season game in Titletown. Be sure to come out on Saturday, Mar. 2 a 4 p.m. to support the Blazer seniors.