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Ava Rousseau

Blazers Seek Redemption at Home Against West Florida in Saturday GSC Clash

1/30/2026 2:33:00 PM

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Valdosta State men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of The Complex on Saturday, January 31, looking for redemption when it hosts West Florida in a Gulf South Conference showdown set for 4 p.m.

The matchup marks the second meeting of the season between the two programs after a thrilling — and painful — 107–104 loss for the Blazers earlier this year in Pensacola. In that contest, Valdosta State went toe-to-toe with the Argonauts in one of the highest-scoring games of the season, trading baskets deep into the second half before West Florida pulled away late at home.

Valdosta State's offense was sharp in the first meeting, cracking the century mark behind efficient shooting and a fast tempo, but defensive stops proved hard to come by as West Florida answered nearly every Blazer run. The Argonauts capitalized from the perimeter and at the free-throw line down the stretch, sealing the three-point victory in the final moments.

Saturday's rematch offers the Blazers a chance to flip the script on their home floor, where energy, pace, and defensive pressure have been key factors all season. Valdosta State will look to clean up late-game execution and limit second-chance opportunities after allowing West Florida to control critical possessions in the earlier meeting.

With conference standings tightening and every game carrying postseason implications, the Blazers enter Saturday motivated by both opportunity and unfinished business. Expect another high-intensity battle as Valdosta State looks to defend its home court and even the season series against a West Florida squad that already knows how dangerous the Blazers can be when the tempo picks up.

 
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