VALDOSTA, Ga.
– No. 11 Valdosta State shot 55.4 percent for the game and
dealt the Jaguars its first loss of the season with an 81-75
victory over top-ranked Augusta State Saturday in a non-conference
matchup in Valdosta, Ga.
For the Jags, senior guard Fred Brathwaite led the team booking a
double-double with a game-high 25 points and a game-high 10
rebounds. Seniors Ben Madgen and Alex Smith added 18 points each.
.
Tyrone Curnell led the Blazers with 23 points and nine rebounds
while also dishing out three assists and blocking two shots. Kevin
Harris poured in 18 points, in just 16 minutes of action, while
Ricardo Lewis added 13.
With the victory, the Blazers improved to 16-2 overall, while the
loss dropped ASU to 14-1 on the season.
Madgen opened the scoring with a jumper for Augusta State. Smith
scored on a dunk with 17:14 to go in the first half to give the
Jaguars their final lead of the game as VSU scored the next nine
points of the contest to put Valdosta State up 11-4.
ASU fought back, tying the game at 11 a minute later, only to have
the Blazers respond with 16-6 spurt to grab the lead for good.
Madgen kept the Jaguars in the game with a pair of baskets, but
Billy McShepard added a lay-up for VSU and Lewis hit a three with
8:10 remaining in the half to put VSU up 27-17.
ASU responded with a run of its own and closed to within 31-28 over
the closing minutes of the half, only to have Valdosta State score
eight of the final nine points of the frame to grab a 39-29
halftime lead.
Augusta State came out hot in the second half as it connected on
seven of its first 11 shots of the frame. A Brathwaite jumper just
two and a half minutes into the half, cut the Jaguar deficit to
three points. Valdosta State parried the run with one of its own as
it scored 10 out of the next 14 for a 51-42 lead with 14:44
remaining.
The final ASU run of the night saw the Jaguars close to within
three with 1:13 to play, but Curnell scored on a lay-up and Lewis
connected on three-of-four free throws to seal the victory.
The Blazers shot 55.4 percent from the floor in the game and
committed just eight turnovers. The Jags shot 47.3 percent from the
field and owned the rebounding edge 32-29.
The No. 1 Jags host UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 20 for a Peach
Belt Conference contest at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry
Fieldhouse.
