HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
In a game riddled with fouls, No. 8 Alabama-Huntsville defeated Valdosta State 77-70 in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at Spragins Hall, despite four Blazer players scoring in double figures.
James Anacreon finished with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds, while Patrick Diop and Josh Sparks finished with 11 and Shaquille Harris 10, as the Blazers fell to rival Alabama-Huntsville for the second time this season.
The two teams combined for 49 fouls, 25 by Valdosta State and 24 by UAH, and shot a total of 70 free throws as VSU made 25-of-33 and the Chargers 26-of-37.
Alabama-Huntsville used an early 11-0 run to grab the lead. Trailing 7-5, Ronnie Mack hit a three-pointer for the Chargers before Zane Campbell hit a basket and assisted on a Wayne Dedrick bucket. Dedrick added a trifecta to give UAH a 15-7 lead 11:43 to play in the first half.
After making three of its first six field goal attempts, Valdosta State struggled to score over the next seven minutes as it missed its next eight shots. James Anacreon finally ended the Blazer drought with a put-back basket at the 10:28 mark, and added a dunk 90 seconds later.
As Anacreon heated up, Alabama-Huntsville began to struggle from the floor as it made just one out of its next 12 shots, a three-pointer by Dedrick. Josh Sparks added a free throw and Anacreon a three-point play before Sparks hit two more free throws to pull VSU to within 19-17 with just over six minutes to play in the first half.
Both Anacreon and Sparks picked up their second foul of the game within a minute of pulling Valdosta State to within two points and the Blazers struggled to score over the remainder of the half, but saw the Chargers hit six free throws and two shots during the span as UAH built a 29-23 halftime lead.
Anacreon returned to the lineup at the start of the second half and scored the first two baskets of the frame while Patrick Diop added a fast break lay-up. Anacreon gave VSU its first lead since 7-5 with a dunk off a Diop steal to extend the VSU run to 8-0 before Diop hit a three-pointer to give Valdosta State a 34-29 lead less than three minutes into the second half.
After a Dedrick three-pointer for Alabama-Huntsville, Anacreon hit his fourth basket of the second half, but quickly picked up his third foul that once again forced him from the game. Two minutes later Sparks also committed his third foul and VSU once again found the scoring difficult as VSU went more than two minutes without scoring, snapping the streak only when both players check back into the game just before the 12 minute mark, by which point the Chargers had regained a 42-41 advantage.
The lead changed hands six times and was tied on three occasions over the ensuing seven minutes before Andrew Donovan finally gave UAH a six point cushion as he scored six straight Charger points. Valdosta State made one last charge as it closed to within three points on a pair of Sparks free throws with 42 seconds remaining. VSU visits Shorter on Saturday afternoon.
Local Sports
Blazers fall to Alabama-Huntsville, despite four players scoring in double figures
- Local Sports
-
-
Win or go home
The Valdosta State softball team faces Armstrong Atlantic University in an elimination game for the 2013 Division II Softball Championship Tournament today at noon.
-
HOOPER: An early look at the 2013 football season
I haven’t written a column in quite some time, largely because there has been so much going on and we haven’t always had the space, nor have I felt up to it after writing so many other stories.
But today, I am writing this column and taking up the inches in the daily sports section and giving a little love to the upcoming football season. -
Blazers fall to Molloy in eight innings
With only one out remaining and trailing by three, the Molloy Lions strung together four hits to plate three runs in the seventh followed by another run in the eighth inning to defeat Valdosta State’s softball team 5-4 in the first round of the 2013 Division II Softball National Championship Tournament on Thursday in Salem, Va.
-
Albritton, Johnson earn All-America honors
Valdosta State softball players Courtney Albritton and Morgan Johnson gathered multiple All-America honors late Wednesday night.
-
Golfers take course for Wounded Warriors
Local patrons participated in the Wounded Warrior Project Golf Tournament at Stone Creek Golf Club in Valdosta on Thursday.
-
Valwood football hosting 4-man scramble golf tourney
Head coach Ashley Henderson and the Valwood football team will be hosting a 4-man scramble golf tournament at Valdosta Country Club Friday, June 14.
-
VHS football cheerleaders to host Junior Cheer Camp
The Valdosta High School football cheerleaders will be hosting a Junior Cheer Camp June 5 through June 7 at the W.G. Nunn Elementary School gymnasium.
-
Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
Valdosta’s Rance Gillespie and Lowndes’ Randy McPherson both think their football teams got better during the recent 10 days of spring practice.
Then again, both coaches know their teams have a ways to go before the start of the football season. -
Signing day at VHS
It was signing day galore at Valdosta High School Wednesday.
Six student-athletes signed national letter of intents to compete at the next level, while two VHS athletes both signed academic scholarships to Division I universities. -
Powell signs with Shorter
Robert Powell, a member of the basketball team on South Georgia State College’s Waycross Campus, has signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Shorter University in Rome.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-



