VALDOSTA —
Six Valdosta State Blazers scored in double figures as VSU defeated Carver 96-78 in non-conference basketball action at The Complex Friday evening.
With the win, Valdosta State improved to 2-0 while Carver fell to 0-6.
The Blazers were never threatened in the game as they scored 12 of the game's first 16 points while connecting on five of their first seven shots. After a basket by the Cougars, the VSU lead continued to grow as Shaquille Harris hit a three and Patrick Diop added a fast break lay-up before David Murray added a lay-in for a 19-6 Valdosta State lead.
Carver got no closer than 11 points the remainder of the first half as Valdosta State kept up the pressure and eventually built a 45-19 lead on a James Anacreon lay-up with 4:21 to go in the half en route to a 49-26 halftime lead.
VSU shot 58.1 percent from the floor in the first half of play as it connected on 18-of-31 shots. Anacreon and Josh Sparks did much of the damage inside against the undersized Carver team as the duo combined for 22 points and 10 rebounds while also blocking five shots in the frame. Meanwhile, the Cougars managed to hit just 12-of-38 shots while not even attempting free throw in the frame.
The Cougars kept the game respectable in the second half as they connected on nine three-pointers in the frame. Valdosta State pushed its advantage to as much as 66-36 with 15:28 remaining in the half before Carver connected on four straight threes followed by a lay-up and another three that closed CBC to within 20 points.
Carver continued to battle and got its deficit to within 18 with 4:29 remaining before its final trifecta of the nigh moved them to within 92-76 two minutes later.
Sparks led VSU with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Anacreon finished with 14 pints. Diop added 15 while Shaquille Harris had 12 while David Murray and Alan Love had 11 each. The Blazes shot 53.1 percent from the floor and owned a 47-37 advantage in rebounding.
Julian Bratton led Carver with 23 points while Nickolas Hood had 15. The Cougars shot 39.4 percent from the floor and had 13 steals on 24 VSU turnovers.
The Classic concludes Saturday evening at The Complex with two more games. Armstrong Atlantic and Carver meet at 6:00 p.m. while the Blazers host Florida Memorial at 8:00 p.m.
Local Sports
Valdosta State cruises by Carver, 96-78
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