DeAndreMcKinnieVSU
Melanie Hodges
77
Winner Valdosta State VSU 22-4, 17-3 GSC
74
North Alabama UNA 13-13, 8-12 GSC
Winner
Valdosta State VSU
22-4, 17-3 GSC
77
Final
74
North Alabama UNA
13-13, 8-12 GSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Valdosta State VSU 41 36 77
North Alabama UNA 31 43 74

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at Union

2/23/2017 | 8 PM

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Feb. 23 (Thu) / 8 PM
at Union
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

NO. 25 BLAZERS ESCAPE WITH 77-74 WIN OVER UNA MEN

FLORENCE – Valdosta State got a basket and two free throws in the final 7.6 seconds to overcome a one-point deficit and escape Flowers Hall with a 77-74 victory over the University of North Alabama men's basketball team on Saturday. The win keeps the 25th-ranked Blazers in first place in the Gulf South Conference standings while UNA falls to 13-13 overall and 8-12 in league play.
 
With two games remaining in the regular season, UNA is in eighth place in the GSC standings, holding a one-game lead over Lee for the final spot in the upcoming conference tournament.
 
On Saturday, the Lions overcame a 41-31 deficit at the half before coming up short in the closing seconds. After Jeff Hodge hit one of two free throws to give UNA a 74-73 lead with 19.5 second to play, VSU's Josh Lemons hit a runner with 7.6 seconds to go to give the Blazers a one-point lead.
 
On UNA's final possession, DeAndre McKinnie was called for a charger with 2.4 seconds remaining. Lemons hit two free throws at the other end to seal the win.
 
The turnover spoiled a career-night for McKinnie, who led all scorers with 23 points. Playing in his final game at Flowers Hall, the senior from Bolivar, Tenn., was 5-for-8 from three-point range. He added six rebounds on the day.
 
Fellow senior Dimario Jackson added 19 points for UNA before fouling out with 1:49 remaining. Hodge rounded out the top scorers for UNA with 10 points.
 
After trailing by 10 at the break, North Alabama shot 51.9 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes. The lead changed hands 17 times in the game, including 14 in the second half alone.
 
VSU led 67-60 at the 6:13 mark before the Lions made one last push. McKinnie scored five points during a 6-0 run to cut the lead to a single point. After the Blazers added two free throws to take a 69-66 lead, he connected on another three-pointer to tie the game at 69-69 with exactly four minutes to play.
 
With the Lions trailing 71-70, Jackson hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to give UNA a 73-71 lead at the 2:13 mark. After VSU tied the game on a basket from the post in the final minute of play, Hodges drew a foul and hit one of two free throws to set up the final sequence.
 
Five players reached double digits in scoring for Valdosta State (22-4 overall,, 17-3 GSC). Lemons led the Blazers with 16 points on the day.
 
UNA will travel to Union on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on the UU campus in Jackson, Tenn.
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jeff Hodge

#3 Jeff Hodge

G
5' 11"
Junior
Dimario Jackson

#11 Dimario Jackson

G
6' 0"
Senior
DeAndre McKinnie

#24 DeAndre McKinnie

G
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jeff Hodge

#3 Jeff Hodge

5' 11"
Junior
G
Dimario Jackson

#11 Dimario Jackson

6' 0"
Senior
G
DeAndre McKinnie

#24 DeAndre McKinnie

6' 3"
Senior
G