VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team snapped a four game skid earning its first victory of 2026 with a dominating 90-72 victory over visiting Delta State Sunday afternoon at The Complex.
With the win, the Blazers improved to 7-6 on the year and 2-5 in Gulf South Conference play, while Delta State fell to 5-8 overall and 2-6 in league play. VSU blew open a seven-point advantage at halftime, outscoring the Statesmen 50-39 in the second half.
Senior Drew Mills had a nice drive to the bucket for two and a 7-3 lead with 16:13 left in the first half. It was Mills' second field goal of the game. A steal from Mills and dunk from junior Samarion Bond pushed the VSU lead to 11-3 with 14:45 remaining in the first half. DSU countered with just its second made field goal of the game the second triple for the Statesmen and an 11-6 margin.
Blazer Senior MJ Jones buried a triple for a 16- 8 lead with 13:07 to play in the half as the Blazers kept the pressure on at both ends of the floor. DSU used a mini 5-0 run pulling within 21-15 and a timeout by VSU as Bryce Clayton hit one from deep for the Statemen with 11:26 to play. Out of the timeout, Brown Jr. hit his second triple pushing the lead to 24-15. Following a bucket from DSU, Brown Jr. drove through the lane and earned the "hoop and harm" pushing the lead back to double digits at 27-17 with 10:20 to play in the half.
The Statesmen used a 7-0 run capped with two free throws from Clayton pulling within 27-24 with 7:24 remaining in the half, but Bond had the answer with a corner triple pushing the lead to six at 30-24 at the other end. Mills worked hard inside after the final media timeout of the half for a 36-24 lead and the largest lead of the game with 3:04 to play in the first half. VSU held a 40-33 lead at intermission.
VSU shot 15 of 35 from the field for the half, while it was 4 of 7 from deep and 6 of 7 from the line. DSU was 12 of 34 from the field, while it was 5 of 20 from distance and 4 of 4 from the line. DaCory Porter had a team-high 14 points in the opening half for DSU and Mills had 12 for the Blazers.
Blazer junior Blaise Wallace scored the first two buckets of the second half and then senior Peter McKey earned the "and one" for a 47-33 lead with 18:27 to play and a timeout by the Statesmen. DSU got on the board in the second half with a long jumper ending a 9-0 run by the Blazers at 49-35.
An offensive rebound and triple from Porter pulled DSU within 53-45, but McKey answered at the other end with a trey for a 56-45 score with 13:55 remaining. Following a missed shot by the Statesmen, McKey drove to the hoop for a score pushing the lead to 58-45. Another triple from Brown Jr. pushed the lead to a game-high 19 at 68-49 with 10:29 to play. It was his third triple of the game.
Valdosta State was led by a balanced effort from several key contributors, highlighted by strong guard play and interior production. Drew Mills scored 22 points and paced the Blazers offensively, consistently attacking the basket and providing scoring stability throughout the game, while Lucas Brown Jr added 19 points off the bench with a strong perimeter presence, knocking down timely shots and pushing the tempo in transition. Inside, Blaise Wallace anchored the paint with his physicality chipping in 14 points and 7 rebounds, efficiently scoring around the rim, giving VSU second-chance opportunities and interior balance. Off the bench, Devon Rainey provided an energy boost with aggressive drives and perimeter shooting, helping maintain offensive rhythm when the rotation shifted. Collectively, the Blazers' top performers combined scoring efficiency with hustle plays that kept Valdosta State competitive from start to finish.
The Blazers return to the road at Union and Christian Brothers next week, before hosting Montevallo on Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. in The Complex.
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