VALDOSTA, Ga. – A 41-point second half surge by Valdosta State was too much for the University of West Alabama men’s basketball team as it dropped a 74-62 decision to the Blazers on Saturday night at the P.E. Complex on the VSU campus.

The Tigers (5-12, 0-4 GSC) played one of their best halves of basketball in Gulf South Conference action, shooting 56 percent from the field and clamping down on the Blazers on the defensive end of the floor, holding VSU to just 36 percent shooting from the field.  UWA was sparked by freshman Demarcus King in the first period, who earned his first start of the season.  King drained three treys in the first 20 minutes and finished in double figures in scoring with 11 of his team-high 17 points in the opening half.  UWA’s largest lead was eight points at the 3:29 mark of the first half while VSU led just one time in the first 20 minutes. 

Sparking the Blazers (10-8, 2-2 GSC) second half comeback was their leading scorer, Devario Hudson, who was held scoreless in the opening frame by the Tiger defense, but Hudson heated up in the final half with a 12 points.  He finished with a double-double with 13 rebounds to his credit.  VSU opened the second half with an 11-3 run to take the lead and nurse it the rest of the contest.  The Blazers held the Tigers to just eight made shots in the second half.

UWA, who played all 12 players on the bench, received nine points off the bench from junior Kevin Johnson while Abdoulaye N’diaye and Brian Murphy pitched in eight points each.

VSU placed five players in double figures including Hudson’s 12 point effort in the second half.  Game-high point honors went to Jamahl Stokes, who finished with 17 points.  Ricky Coleman turned in 17 points while Ray Cummings and Tristan Crawford scored 12 and 11 points respectively.

UWA will look for that elusive first GSC win on Monday night, welcoming West Florida to Pruitt hall.  Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.  The Argos dropped a 75-70 overtime decision to Montevallo on Saturday night.