VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team kicks off the 2025-26 season Friday and Sunday with the South Region Crossover hosting Edward Water and Florida Tech at The Complex.

The South Regional begins Friday at 8 p.m. as Valdosta State hosts Edward Waters, following two women's games in the women's regional cross over.  On Saturday, Edward Waters faces Florida Tech at 5 p.m., while VSU faces Florida Tech on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The regional crossover will be broadcast on FloCollege with Spencer Van Horn having the call of the games for the video stream.  The Blazer games also will be broadcast on the radio with Friday's game on WJEM Fox Sports Valdosta 94.3 FM and Sunday's matchup will be on 92.1 WDDQ FM and talk921.com as Mike Chason will broadcast both games.

For the third consecutive season, GSC basketball will be streamed exclusive on FloCollege. For subscription prices and how to sign-up for FloCollege, click here. 

VSU head coach Mike Helfer begins his 21st season at the helm of the program after going 25-7 last season and 18-4 in Gulf South Conference play. Helfer's squad was picked third in the Preseason Gulf South Conference Coaches Poll, which was announced last month.  Defending league champion The University of Alabama at Huntsville was tabbed as the league favorite, followed by Montevallo, with West Alabama and Lee rounding out the top five in the preseason poll.

In addition, Blazer senior Drew Mills was named the Preseason All-GSC Team as he earned first team all-league honors last season with an outstanding Junior campaign. Mills played in 32 games with 29 starts logging 800 minutes and 25 minutes per game.  He went 192 of 368 from the field for a .522 average, while draining 34 triples in 82 attempts (.415) and was 36 of 49 from the line for a .735 clip.  He averaged 14.2 points per game to tie for second on the team, while he averaged 5.8 rebounds per game which was good for second on the team.  Mills had 23 steals and 20 blocks as he was one of two Blazers with over 20 steals and blocks last season.  He had 25 games in double figures and had two double-doubles last season. His leadership and consistency were pivotal to VSU's success, and his return gives the Blazers a proven star to build around this season.

In addition to the preseason all-conference team and the preseason conference poll, the GSC All-Newcomer Team also was announced as honorees were submitted by their coaches.  For VSU, Blaise Wallace, a 6-7 transfer forward from Albany State that averaged 13.9 PPG, 2.3 APG, and 10.3 RPG,  6-1 guard Jose Cuello from Maryland-Eastern Shore that averaged 2.9 PPG, 1.1 APG, and 1.4 RPG, and Michael Batchelor, a 6-2 guard from West Virginia Wesleyan that  averaged 13.0 PPG. 2.0 RPG, and 1.4 APG, were all named to the GSC Men's Basketball Newcomer Watch List.  

 The Blazers hosted the regional crossover last season as VSU went a perfect 2-0 with a 106-88 win over Albany State and a 119-87 win over Clark Atlanta.  

For Edwards Waters, head coach Cabral Huff begins his third season at the helm of the Tigers as it was 16-13 last season and 12-9 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and lost in the second round of the SIAC Championship.  Huff is 28-31 all-time at EWU and his squad was picked to finish fifth in the SIAC Preseason Poll as Clark Atlanta was picked as the league favorite, followed by Savannah State.

Florida Tech comes into this tournament following a 6-22 record a season ago and a 3-17 mark in Sunshine State Conference play.  Head coach Will Murphy was hired in April, 2025, as the 12th coach in program history. Murphy joins the Panthers after making a significant impact at Wofford College, where he spent eight seasons with the program.

Season tickets are on sale now for Blazer basketball and are $120 for adults, $105 for youth/senior and VSU employees.  The deadline to renew season tickets is Nov. 14 before the seats will be released to the public.

To purchase season tickets, please call 229-333-SEAT (7328) or visit the VSU Athletic Ticket Office in the P.E. Complex.  The VSU Athletic Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Season tickets also can be purchased online by clicking here.

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