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Allen Sharpe
Trent Spruell | Trent S. Photography
67
Winner Valdosta State VSU 22-5, 15-4
54
West Alabama UWA 20-6, 15-4
Winner
Valdosta State VSU
22-5, 15-4
67
Final
54
West Alabama UWA
20-6, 15-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Valdosta State VSU 34 33 67
West Alabama UWA 30 24 54

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

VSU Snaps Tiger Streak with 67-54 Win

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The longest win streak in the Allen Sharpe tenure has come to a close as the Valdosta State Blazers grab a victory over the #24 West Alabama Tigers 67-54 Saturday night in Pruitt Hall Gymnasium in Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball action.
 
The loss snaps an 11-game winning streak and drops the Tigers to 20-6 overall and 15-4 in the GSC. Valdosta State improves to 22-5 on the season and 15-4 in the conference.
 
"Nobody wants to lose, but let's make it a positive," said Sharpe. "Let's get back rejuvenated again. Let's not want to have that feeling again and let's realize that every possession is big and important and maybe the difference between a win and a loss. Nobody wants to lose, but if we have to let's lose one here at the end so we can get back fired up again."
 
Physicality played a role in this matchup with 35 fouls called between both squads. Despite shooting 48 percent (13-of-27) from the floor in the first half, the Tigers trailed 34-30 at the break thanks to points converted to turnovers by the Blazers. The quick pace of VSU upset the rhythm of the Tigers.
 
"Us getting 54 points against Valdosta is going to make it hard to win," said Sharpe "If you told me we would hold them to 67, I'd take that every single time and like our chances. But their pressure sped us up. We had 10 turnovers at the half. Their pressure affected us. We have to score the ball better than 54 points to have a chance at winning."
 
Charles Tripp scored 17 points, a block and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Josh Fleming finished with 14 points and five rebounds. LaJuan Hardy went for 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks, but fouled out for the first time in his UWA career. DeAndre Harper added six boards and a block as well.
 
VSU's Desmond DeRamus finished with a double-double as the graduate transfer totaled 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
West Alabama will wrap the regular season Thursday, Feb. 28 with a trip to Clinton, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi College Choctaws in the A.E. Wood Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN 104.9.
 
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