VALDOSTA, Ga. –The Blazers struggled shooting, though they had good looks early and fouls started to mount through the first five minutes with six early fouls to just one for UM.  The Falcons extended their run to 6-0 for a 10-4 lead, but senior Drew Mills answered the run with a 14-footer and a 10-6 score with 15:14 left in the first half.   Prior to Mills' bucket, VSU was just 2 for 7, while UM opened 5 of 6. 

A big 3-pointer from senior Lucas Brown Jr., pulled VSU within 10-9 and, following a nice rebound on the defensive end, senior MJ Jones was fouled, making both tosses for an 11-10 VSU lead and a 5-0 run.  Three of four free throws by the Blazers extended the run to 8-0 for a 14-10 lead with 12:54 to play in the half.  Devon McKinnon was charged with a flagrant foul as Brown Jr. made one of two free throws following taking a big charge for a 9-0 run.  Senior Maalik Leitch buried the first triple of the game for an 18-10 lead.  Following a missed dunk from UM, senior Tony Green Jr., hit a 3-poitner for a 21-10 lead and a timeout by the Falcons. 

Out of the timeout, a hoop-and-harm dunk from Derek Moore ended the spurt by the Blazers and a 21-12 VSU lead with 11:59 to play.  It was UM's first point since the 15:44 mark.  Leitch hit his second triple of the game for a 31-17 lead for VSU with 7:25 left in the half.  A bucket from Brandon Fussell, a triple from Bryant James and a dunk from Moore pulled UM within 31-26 with 5:35 to play in the half.  James' second trey of the game pulled the Falcons within 31-29 and an 8-0 run, forcing VSU into a timeout with 5:19 to go in the half. 

VSU pushed the lead back to nine capped with a 3-pointer from junior Devon Rainey at 38-29 with 3:59 remaining in the half.  Senior Peter McKey extended the lead back to double-digits at 40-29 as VSU was 12 of 14 from the line to that point, while UM was 5 of 7.  Since UM trimmed the deficit to 31-29, VSU scored the next nine points.   VSU took a 47-32 lead into intermission. 

For the half, the Blazers shot 41.9 percent from the field on 13 of 31 from the floor, while the were 7 of 20 from deep and 14 of 16 from the line.  UM shot 38.7 percent on 12 of 31 from the field, while it was 3 of 13 from deep and 5 of 7 from the line.  The Blazers held a 12-0 lead in points off turnovers forcing UM into eight miscues while the Blazers had just four turnovers for the half.  Moore had 12 points for UM, while Brown Jr. had 13 for the Blazers at the break.

VSU pushed the lead back to 15 at 67-52 on a triple from Brown Jr., with 13:16 remaining in the regulation after UM had trimmed the deficit to single digits.   Brown Jr. continued the hot hand for his fifth triple and 24th point of the night for a 72-58 lead with 11:23 to play.   A 3-pointer from UM's Tyson Sexton pulled the Falcons within nine at 72-63, but Brown Jr. scored on a high percentage shot in the paint, pushing the lead back to 11 with nine minutes remaining.  A 3-pointer from Jaylen Curry pulled the Falcons within 11 with 8:36 to play and the sixth triple of the half for UM. 

Mills scored inside and then earned a steal and score pushing the VSU lead to 82-66 for the largest of the game to that point and 7:17 remaining.  The Blazers kept working hard and Mills scored his 18th point of the game on a nice assist from McKey for an 86-69 lead with 5:17 to play.  Following a triple from UM, Mills earned the "and one" as Moore fouled out with 22 points for an 89-72 lead with 4:20 to play. 

Drew Mills led all scorers with a career night, pouring in 31 points on an efficient 14-of-19 shooting while adding clutch finishes in transition and the paint. Lucas Brown Jr. provided a huge spark off the bench with 28 points, knocking down five three-pointers and finishing aggressively on fast breaks. Brown also added five rebounds and three assists in a well-rounded performance.

Valdosta State's depth proved to be a difference-maker, as the Blazers scored 49 bench points compared to just 12 for Montevallo. Devon Rainey added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, contributing on both ends of the floor, while Maalik Leitch chipped in 7 points and helped stretch the defense with perimeter shooting. Antonio Green and Peter McKey each made timely plays defensively and in transition to maintain momentum.

VSU shot 50.0 percent from the field and matched Montevallo from beyond the arc at 36.7 percent, while dominating in transition with 24 fast-break points and capitalizing on turnovers with 22 points off turnovers. The Blazers also controlled the tempo throughout the second half, limiting Montevallo's opportunities to make sustained runs.

With the win, the Blazers continued to build momentum in Gulf South Conference play and will look to carry that energy forward as the schedule progresses

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