Armstrong Atlantic Tops Valdosta State 94-74

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic connected on 14 of 29 three pointers as the Pirates defeated Valdosta State 94-74 in non-conference men’s basketball action at The Complex Sunday afternoon.

The two teams played even through the first nine minutes of the contest as they battled to a 17-17 tie. Kevin Harris led the way for Valdosta State (3-2) as he scored seven of the Blazers’ points while Chris Edwards hit a pair of threes for Armstrong Atlantic (2-1).

AASU took over the rest of the first half as the Pirates used a 10-5 run to grab a lead. Jesse Wheeler started the spurt with a jumper before Grant Domsic added a four-point play. Billy McShepard scored for VSU, but Brett Goodwell added a pair of free throws for Armstrong Atlantic and, after a Tristan Steele three for the Blazers, Keyshore Williams added a tip-in for the Pirates to give them a 27-22 lead.

Valdosta State trimmed its deficit to 32-29 over the ensuing two minutes of action, only to have Armstrong Atlantic close the half on a 17-7 run to lead 49-36 at the half. The Pirates hit four of five threes during the run, including two by Wheeler, who matched Domsic with a game-high 10 points at the half.

Half of the Pirates 18 first half field goals were from outside the three-point line.

The Pirates onslaught from beyond the three-point line continued in the second half as they connected on three of their first four trifectas of the half. Meanwhile, AASU scored off of six offensive rebounds during the first seven minutes of the half to push its lead to 71-52 with 12:49 remaining in the game.

The Armstrong Atlantic grew to as much as 81-56 with 7:47 remaining in the contest before Valdosta State made its final run to close to within 18 points.

Valdosta State shot 47 percent from the floor in the game as they connected on 26 of 55 shots. Steele led the Blazers with 22 points while Harris had 16, Josh Sparks 12 and Sidney Harris 11.

Goodwell led Armstrong Atlantic with 22 points and nine rebounds while Domsic finished 18. Wheeler and Edwards tallied 16 each as the Pirates shot 50 percent from the floor. AASU also owned a 42-27 advantage in rebounding and dished out 20 assists.

Valdosta State returns to action Tuesday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Albany State in The Complex.