VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers will continue their homestand, hosting a pair of GSC teams from the Volunteer State. Valdosta State will start with Christian Brothers on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. before taking on Union on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.
 
The Blazers are coming off a tough loss to the hands of in-state rival #7 West Georgia on Saturday, 76-72. Graduate Student LaTrell Tate put together yet another solid stat line, scoring 19 points on 8-12 from the floor and 3-4 from three. The guard is now averaging 18.4 points, 1.6 steals, and is shooting 61.1% from three over his last five games. VSU was playing behind for most of the game, as UWG led for a total of 36 minutes. Late in the second half, Valdosta State was able to get it to a two-point game but couldn't seal the deal.
 
 Valdosta State currently holds an 8-13 overall record, with a 5-12 record in GSC play and are 5-5 at The Complex.
 
Christian Brothers enters Titletown with an 11-8 record and a 9-7 GSC record. The Bucs are led by veteran head coach John Reilly. Reilly is in his 31^st season as a head coach and his fifth with Christian Brothers. He holds an overall record of 514-381, including a 40-74 record during his time in Memphis, Tenn. Reilly's offense is led by junior Anias Futrell. The guard is currently third in the GSC in scoring, putting up 18.5 points and has hit a team high 45 three-pointers made on .409 from behind the arc. He is also one of their top options on the defensive end, averaging 6.6 rebounds and just over a block and a steal. As a team, the Bucs are aggressive on the glass, ranking first in the GSC in rebounds per game at 40.8, and also rank first in offensive rebounds a night at 14.1. It is spread out across their team, as CBU has four players averaging more than five rebounds per game. Earlier this season, Christian Brothers defeated Valdosta State in Memphis, Tenn. by a score of 88-57 on Dec. 15.
 
On Saturday afternoon, the Blazers will play host to the Bulldogs of Union University in a clash of the red and black. The Bulldogs are entering this matchup with the Blazers holding a 10-10 overall record and a GSC record of 7-9 pending their matchup at West Florida on Thursday night. Union is led by head coach David Niven, who is in his 15^th season with the program. During those 15 seasons he holds an overall record of 254-181. Niven's team has three players averaging over 10 points a night and are led by junior guard Johnson Ahmad. The Punta Gorda, Fla. native is averaging 15.4 points a night on .465 from the floor, .365 from three, and .786 from the charity stripe. When the two teams matched up earlier this season in Jackson, Tenn., the Bulldogs came away with an 84-76 win despite 20 points from LaTrell Tate and 18 points from junior Braxton Williams.
 
After both matchups this weekend, the Blazers will hit the road for three straight before returning to Titletown to host West Alabama on Feb. 29 before facing off against Alabama Huntsville on Saturday, Mar. 2 for senior night at 4 p.m.