West Georgia limited Valdosta State to 31.5 percent shooting and forced the Blazers into 20 turnovers, as the Wolves defeated VSU 85-52 in Gulf South Conference men’s basketball action Saturday evening.

With the win, West Georgia improved to 20-7 overall and 7-6 in GSC action, while Valdosta State fell to 10-14 and 3-10 in league play.

The Blazers connected on just 17-of-54 field goal attempts in the game and never led in the contest while West Georgia led by as much as 37 points during the second half of play.

VSU kept the game close through the first 10 minutes of play as the Wolves led by no more than five during the time while the score was tied twice, the last coming at 9-9 with 11:49 to play in the first half.

West Georgia responded to the tie with a 19-4 run to grab control of the contest. The Blazers connected on just two of five field goal attempts during the run and committed seven turnovers while the Wolves hit seven of their nine attempts to build a 28-13 advantage en route to a 36-23 halftime lead.

UWG opened the second half on a 24-5 run to put the game out of reach. The Wolves connected on seven three-pointers during the spurt, which ended with West Georgia holding a 65-28 lead with 12:03 to play in the contest.

Valdosta State got no closer than 32 points the rest of the way.

Tristan Steele led Valdosta State with 20 points while Will Alston tallied 11 and nine rebounds.

Da’Ron Sims scored a game-high 21 points and had nine rebounds while Gavin Field had 18, all coming on three-pointers. Ryan Godfrey hit four threes and scored 16 points as the Wolves hit 13 trifectas in the game. UWG also held a 58-39 advantage in rebounding in the game and had 16 assists and 12 steals.

Valdosta State returns to action Wednesday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. when it plays its final home game of 2011-12 when it hosts Coastal Georgia in The Complex.