VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team gave a strong effort and outscored visiting Alabama Huntsville 42-35 in the second half, but came up short in a 93-78 loss to the Chargers on Senior Day at The Complex.
The Blazers finish the season with a 12-16 record overall and 9-15 in Gulf South Conference play, while UAH improved to 19-9 overall and 17-7 in GSC play. VSU had all five starters in double figures, but were outscored in the first half 58-36 and was unable to make up the difference in the second half.
Prior to the game, VSU honored five seniors for their final game of their VSU career. Student Manager Dylan Harvey, along with student-athletes
Mike Isler,
LaTrell Tate,
Lee Flenor and
Jay Rucker all were part of the 2023-24 senior class. VSU would like to wish each of these outstanding young men the best in their future endeavors.
Rucker finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the team for the Blazers on 8 of 10 from the field, 1 of 3 from distance and 1 of 2 from the line, while Tate added 14 points with two triples, 13 points from Isler, 12 from Flenor and 11 from junior
Caden Boser. VSU shot 50.8 percent for the game on 30 of 59 from the field, while it was 9 of 25 from distance and 9 of 15 from the line. The Blazers held a 35-29 lead in rebounding, but 16 turnovers led to a 19-6 advantage for UAH in points off miscues.
The Chargers had a game-high 32 points and six assists from Jack Kostel as he was 12 of 19 from the field, 3 of 5 form distance and 5 of 5 from the line leading five Chargers in double digits. Tommy Murr added 15 points and Luke Burnett chipped in 12 among the starters while reserves Isaac Chatman and Daniel Saylor had 12 points and ten points, respectively. The Chargers didn't shoot much better than VSU, going 33 of 63 from the field for 52.4 percent, but were deadly from downtown, going 15 of 31 from beyond the arc, including 12 of 18 from distance in the first half alone.
Behind a strong crowd of 1,206 fans, the Blazers raced out to a 9-3 lead with a pair of triples from Tate and one from Isler with 17:05 left in the first half. Kostel earned a pair of "and ones" erasing the VSU advantage and the Saylor scored inside for an 11-9 UAH lead with 15:20 to play in the half. Flenor tied the game at 11 at the stripe, but a triple from Chatman put UAH up for good.
The Chargers would use a 33-9 run for a 36-18 lead with 7:21 left in the half capped on a pair of charity tosses from Parks McLain. UAH would lead by 22 at the break, 58-36. For the half, VSU shot 46.4 percent on 13 of 28 from the field, while it was 6 of 15 from distance and 4 of 5 from the line. Tate had ten points to lead the team. UAH countered going 20 of 35 from the field for the half for 57.1 percent, while it was 12 of 18 from distance and 6 of 6 from the line. Kostel had a game-high 17 points in the opening half to lead all scorers.
UAH built the lead to as many as 25 in the second half at 72-47 with 14:55 to play. Down the stretch, VSU began to find its rhythm over the last 6:32 and used a 13-5 run to close the game for the final score of 93-78.
