VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind a career-high 22 points off the bench from junior Darrell Jones and a double-double from junior Bryce Smith, the No. 21 Valdosta State Blazers fought off a pesky Shorter University team for a 93-82 victory Saturday at The Complex. VSU got back on the winning track, improving to 14-4 and 7-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
Jones was a beast inside for the Blazers as he went a career-best 9 of 15 from the field and 4 of 6 from the line as VSU more than doubled up SU in points in the paint at 64-30. Smith went 5 of 8 from the field with a triple and 3 of 4 from the line with a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior Beau Justice added 18 points on 7 of 15 from the field, but was 0 of 6 from beyond the arc, while recording six assists and no turnovers, along with four steals. Senior Keshawn Ingram added 10 points.
VSU shot 57.1 percent for the game and went a blistering 61.1 percent in the first half from the field. VSU really struggled from beyond the arc, going 3 of 16 from range and 18 of 25 from the line. The Blazers held a 38-30 lead in rebounding, while making the most of second chance efforts, leading 22-7 in second chance points.
Shorter also had four players in double figures led by 20 points off the bench from Bryson Price as he was 6 of 11 from the field, two triples and 6 of 7 from the line. Shorter shot 44.1 percent on 26 of 59 from the field, while going 10 of 24 from beyond the arc and 20 of 25 from the line as the deep threat and free throws kept the Hawks in the game.
A triple from junior Clay Guillozet pushed the VSU lead to 26-16 with 10:10 left in the first half and later, an 11-5 run pushed the lead to 40-24 with 4:48 left. The Hawks wouldn't go away quietly, however, as they the cut deficit to ten on three occasions as VSU settled for a 48-38 lead at halftime.
Back-to-back buckets by the Hawks cut the VSU lead to four at 66-62 with 9:43 left as SU used a 9-3 run. VSU quickly answered, pushing the lead back to double figures with a run of its own and a 73-62 advantage with 8:40 left capped on a steal from Justice and layup from Ingram.
Shorter cut the deficit to four at 78-74 with 3:57 left, but once again, VSU had another run as used a triple from senior Winston Morgan and closed the game on a 15-8 run for a 93-82 win.
VSU returns to the road next week as it travels to Montevallo on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET with Spencer Van Horn having the call and will play at Auburn Montgomery on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.
The Blazers return home to host Montevallo on Thurs., Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at The Complex, before heading back on the road to open the month of February.
Check back with vstateblazers.com for all things Blazer Basketball throughout the season.
