VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State missed two shots in the final 26 seconds to enable the Moccasins to claim a key 67-65 road win here Saturday night.
John Thompson, who turned in another solid effort off the bench, hit the second of two free throws to put FSC up by three, 67-64, with 1:21 remaining. A Moccasin foul sent VSU's Tristan Crawford to the free throw line with 0:56 left. He made the first one, but missed the second and Zach Smith grabbed the rebound. The Blazers got another chance, though, when the Moccasins turned the ball over with 0:45 remaining. Crawford missed a jumper with 0:26 to go, but the Blazers controlled the rebound and called timeout. Following the timeout, Marvin Dibble missed a three-pointer with 0:12 left, Rion Rayfield grabbed the rebound and the Moccasins had their fifth win in six games.
Thompson led the Moccasins with a 15-point, five-rebound effort in 24 minutes off the bench. Rob Eldridge added 13 points and Rayfield collected 10. Smith led FSC's rebounding effort with seven, while Rashaad Singleton tallied nine points and added five more blocked shots.
Tyrone Curnell led Valdosta State (3-1) with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
The Moccasins led by as many as 13 points in the first half, 38-25, before the Blazers scored the final six points of the period to trim the margin to 38-31 at halftime. The lead was never in double digits in the second half. Brandon Jenkins' three-pointer with 4:57 remaining broke a 58-58 tie and gave FSC the lead for good.
