The Valdosta State University men's and women's basketball teams earned wins against Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama Saturday at the Complex.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Valdosta State 59, West Alabama 52: A commanding 20-point game from sophomore Taylor Searcy helped the Valdosta State Lady Blazers to a win over the West Alabama Tigers at The Complex on Saturday afternoon.
VSU improved to 12-2 on the year and 11-1 in Gulf South Conference play and won its 12th straight game, while the Tigers fell to 9-7 on the year and 6-6 in the conference.
Searcy, the reigning GSC Player of the Week, had another impressive game scoring a game-high 20 points going 7 of 10 from the field with one three pointer, a perfect 5 for 5 from the line and pulled down seven rebounds.
It marked her third game of 20 or more points this season. Redshirt senior Jirah Ards also had a notable afternoon scoring 12 points on 5 of 9 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw line. Junior Tamiya Francis also had a solid scoring performance, chipping in 11 points and seven rebounds. As a team, VSU shot 45.8 percent from the field on 22 of 48, while it was 5 of 17 from deep and 10 of 15 from the line.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Valdosta State 96, West Alabama 84: The Valdosta State men's basketball team raced out to a torrid start and saw UWA battle back to take the lead at halftime, but a strong second half propelled the Blazers to a victory Saturday afternoon.
VSU improved to 12-6 overall and 8-4 on the year and won its fourth-straight game, while UWA fell to 13-3 overall and 9-3 in league play.
The win snapped UWA's seven-game winning streak. The Blazers had five players in double figures led by a game-high 24 points from sophomore Caden Boser tying his season-high as he was a season-best 9 of 14 from the field with one triple and 5 of 5 from the line, while recording four rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
Senior Jacolbey Owens added 20 points and narrowly missed a double-double with eight assists in the game as he was 7 of 14 form the field.
Maurice Gordon added 16 points on 5 of 10 from the field, 3 of 7 from distance and 3 of 3 from the line with five rebounds and three assists. Senior Cam Hamilton and senior Mohamed Fofana each had 13 points in the game.
