CARROLLTON — It took the Blazers 13 years to finally win a game over West Georgia on the road. On Saturday, they made it two in a row.
It wasn’t easy.
The Blazers won in The Coliseum by a single point for the second straight year, as they survived a late rally by the Wolves for a 58-57 victory behind tough defense and 23 points from Tyrone Curnell.
“To win back-to-back years here, it’s a credit to the players,” Blazers coach Mike Helfer said. “The players make the plays and I’m very proud of our guys.”
VSU (19-2, 5-0 in the GSC) went without a field goal for 7 minutes and 44 seconds late in the fourth quarter, allowing the Wolves to close to within two of VSU’s lead. Curnell finally ended the drought with a turnaround jumper with 1:17 left to put VSU up 58-54. It proved to be the winning score.
“I knew we had to get a bucket,” Curnell said. “I told my team ,and my coach understood we were going to get it into the paint. He gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do ... I just turned around and hit it.”
West Georgia hit a free throw to make it 58-55 and had one final chance to tie the game, but Vojin Svilar missed a 3-pointer with time ticking off the clock. The Wolves put back a loose ball with 2.1 seconds left to make it 58-57, but Ricardo Lewis managed to run the clock to .1 seconds on the inbounds pass from Ryan Nelson before getting fouled. Lewis smartly missed the second foul shot, and UWG didn’t have enough time left to get a shot off.
The Blazers extended their season-high winning streak to 11 games.
“We won this game defensively,” Helfer said. “As poorly as we played offensively, and give West Georgia credit because they had a great game plan against us, we won this with our defense. We held them to 36 percent shooting and 17 (percent) from the 3-point line. Defense won this game.”
Curnell wasn’t the only Blazer who helped pull the game out. Lewis hit 5 of 8 free throws and B.J. Dibble hauled in 15 boards. Tristan Crawford hit two free throws late in the game.
“Dibble: The ultimate silent partner or whatever you want to call him,” Helfer said. “He gets 15 rebounds. Unbelievable.”
Jeremy Smith led the Wolves with 15 points. The dangerous John Pringle was held to seven points and six rebounds.
The No. 6 Blazers knew a win in Carrollton wasn’t going to come easy against the Wolves (10-10, 2-3). They hung on for a 61-60 win last year in The Coliseum and got a great game from the home team this year in front of 4,800 people.
“It means a lot being that it took 13 years to get a win here,” Curnell said. “My first year we got a win by one and my second year we got a win by one. It means a lot. You have to give credit to West Georgia for competing so hard and giving us a run for our money.”
VSU returns home on Thursday to host North Alabama. The Blazers have beaten every team in the GSC East.
Local Sports
Valdosta State survives West Georgia
- Local Sports
-
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
A shortened, diminished roster for the Valdosta State men's basketball team took another blow Thursday following the suspension of senior guard Sidney Harris.
-
Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
-
Blazers fall to Albany State, 7-3
The Valdosta State baseball team was handed a third-straight loss Wednesday night, as the Blazers fell to in-state foe Albany State, 7-3.
The Blazers were held in check for much of the night, despite being aided by nine Golden Ram walks. With runners on base, the Blazers were unable to produce enough offense to score runs, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game. -
Wildcats rally for 50-40 win over Brooks
Valdosta’s boys basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, and rallied for a 50-40 victory over Brooks County on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats outscored Brooks 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point win. -
VSU soccer announces 2012 signing class
Valdosta State and Head Coach Melissa Heinz announced the signing of Blazer Soccer’s second recruiting class.
After bringing in a large class of 31 in its initial signing day, the now established program that went to the Gulf South Conference Championship match welcomes seven new players with a few more expected. -
Valdosta celebrates 2011 season
On Tuesday night, the 2011 Valdosta High football team was honored at the team’s annual awards banquet for a season that included the program’s first region championship since 2003.
The Wildcats went 8-3 in 2011, won their first Winnersville Classic in eight years and earned their 41st region title. -
Lowndes junior varsity tennis earns two wins
Lowndes High tennis opened up the 2012 season with a JV double-header in Waycross Wednesday afternoon
-
Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
The Colquitt County Lady Packers handed the Lowndes Vikettes a second straight loss Tuesday night, 55-48.
Jamesia Jones led Lowndes with 10 points, while Courtne Washington had nine. Tasia Brown finished with eight. -
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
