Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers Edge Clayton State 88-87

Curnell records 12th double-double

MORROW, Ga. - Third-ranked Valdosta State withstood a late Clayton State rally to defeat the Lakers 88-87 in non-conference men's basketball action at the Athletics and Fitness Center Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 44-42 at the half, the Blazers (5-0) shot 55.6 percent from the field during the second half to claim the victory. The hot shooting helped the Blazers build a lead as large as 74-65 with 6:20 to go in the game before Lakers (1-1) began their comeback bid.

Robert Murry scored four straight points for CSU before a Brandon Robinson lay-up cut the VSU lead to three with five minutes to play. A Tristan Crawford jumper a minute later pushed Valdosta State's lead back to seven, but the Blazers scored just free throws and a Crawford basket the rest of the way, allowing the Lakers to once again close their deficit. Robinson cut the deficit to one with a three-pointer with a second to go, but Valdosta State successfully inbounded the ball to end the game.

Valdosta State held the lead for much of the first half and eventually led by as much as 31-23 with 7:48 to go in the frame before an 11-0 Clayton State run gave the Lakers the lead. A Tyrone Curnell dunk and a pair of free throws by Mike Holloway put VSU back in front, but the remaining three minutes of the half saw five lead changes. A Marvin Dibble jumper three seconds before the intermission gave CSU its two point advantage.

Curnell began the second half with a dunk to even the game and the first eight minutes of the second half featured eight lead changes before the Blazers used a 12-2 run to grab the lead for good. With Valdosta State down a point, Billy McShepard began the run with a free throw before Curnell hit a pair of threes. A Murry jumper closed the Lakers to within four, but McShepard added a three-point play and Christian Hunter a jumper to put VSU in front 72-63.

After shooting 42.9 percent from the floor in the first half, Valdosta State connected on 15-of-27 field goals in the second half while holding Clayton State, which shot 51.6 percent in the first 20 minutes of play, to 14-of-35, or 40.0 percent, in the final 20 minutes.

Curnell led Valdosta State with 20 points and 14 rebounds, his 12th career double-double, including 14 points and eight rebounds in the second half. The senior connected on seven-of-13 field goals in the game, including four-of-six from behind the three-point arc, while also dishing out four assists. Crawford and Hunter added 15 points while McShepard poured in 13 and Marquis Robinson 11. The Blazers connected on 30-of-62 field goals in the game, a 48.4 success rate, and owned a 43-31 advantage in rebounding.

Murry led Clayton State with 30 points while Robinson added 14, Timothy Downs 11 and Germeil Daniels 10. CSU shot 45.5 percent from the field in the game, hitting 30-of-66 field goal attempts.

Valdosta State returns to action Monday, November 30 when it hosts Georgia Southwestern in the P.E. Complex at 7:30 p.m.

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