Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers Edge Montevallo 70-69

Late Coleman shot propels VSU to victory

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Ricky Coleman's jumper with 7.7 seconds left proved to be the game winner as Valdosta State defeated Montevallo 70-69 in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at the P.E. Complex Monday evening.

Montevallo (9-10, 2-3) took the lead with 1:16 to go in the contest when Eric Turner nailed a three from the right corner. On the Blazers' next trip down the floor, Coleman rebounded a missed Tristan Crawford three, but had the ball stripped by Turner. After a timeout, the Falcons attempted to run down the clock, but Terrill Humphrey's errant pass gave VSU (11-8, 3-2) the ball back with 16 seconds to go.

After a Valdosta State timeout, Coleman took a pass from Stephan Walton and drove to the right baseline, where he pulled up for a 10-foot jumper that bounced off the backside of the rim and dropped in for the winning basket.

Montevallo led for all but 10 seconds of the first half as they opened the game on a 16-8 run. Tauras Dortch opened the game with a three before Coleman answered with a jumper for the Blazers. Jamahl Stokes gave VSU its first lead with a tip-in, but Dortch quickly added his second three of the game. After a Devario Hudson jumper evened the game, Humphrey and Dortch wrapped a pair of trifectas around two Ray Cummings' free throws. Humphrey quickly added lay-up while Turner finished the run with a pair of free throws with 16:16 to go in the first half.

The Falcon lead reached double digits on a Brian Carlyle three-point play with 8:47 remaining in the frame and eventually stretched to as much as 33-18 before the Blazers began to fight back. VSU closed the half on a 13-2 run, which ended with a Coleman three with 40 seconds remaining in the frame that cut the Valdosta State deficit to 35-31 at the half.

Montevallo held on to the lead for the first five and a half minutes of the second half before the Blazers eventually evened the game at 43-43 on a Hudson dunk. The game remained even for the next four minutes before VSU grabbed its largest lead with a 12-4 spurt that covered three minutes of play. Hudson scored seven points during the run which ended with the Blazers leading 64-56 with 5:24 remaining.

An ensuing 13-4 Falcon run set up Coleman's game winning shot.

Hudson led Valdosta State with 24 points and eight rebounds while also blocking two shots. Coleman added 19 points for the Blazers, who shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) in the contest. VSU also owned a 35-28 advantage in rebounding.

Humphrey led Montevallo with 19 points while Anthony Brown and Dortch finished with 15 each. Turner also scored in double digits, tallying 10 points, as the Falcons shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor.

Valdosta State returns to action Saturday, February 2 when it continues Gulf South Conference play at West Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST.

Current News >>