VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 16 Valdosta State Blazers withstood a late rally by Delta State and defeated the visiting Statesmen 102-93 on Tuesday.

Valdosta State shot 56 percent (30-of-51) from the field – including 48 percent (10-of-21) from behind the three-point arc – as the Blazers (8-2) snapped a two-game losing streak that dropped them from No. 2 to No. 16 in the NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll released by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Joe McCray (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Univ. of Nebraska) scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Delta State (5-3). Marqueys Brown (Memphis, Tenn./Crichton College) scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting – with many of his points coming on an array of dazzling dunks.

Ricardo Lewis scored 22 points and Tyrone Curnell added 21 points to lead Valdosta State.

The Blazers took care of the game at the free throw line, as they converted 32 out of 42 charity shots, good for 76 percent. The Statesmen shot 62 percent (13-of-21) from the line.

Valdosta State led by as many as 16 points with seven minutes left in the second half, but the Statesmen refused to go away quietly, and cut the deficit to eight points by the 3:42 mark. Delta State would get as close as five points in the final minute, but the Blazer lead proved to be too much to overcome as the Statesmen had to foul the rest of the way.

A total of five Statesmen players scored in double-figures. Roderick Ollie (Indianola, Miss./UAB) scored 16 points, followed by Eric Spencer (Marion, Ark./Arkansas-Fort Smith) who scored 13 points. Chad Akins (Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS) chipped in 11 points and six assists.

The Statesmen played evenly with their hosts for the first five minutes and change of the game, but Valdosta seized control with a 9-0 run between the 14:36 and 10:46 marks of the first half.

The Blazers led by as many as 12 points during the first half, but the Statesmen were able to fight back with a 7-0 run between 8:06 and 6:49 marks of the period. Brown scored four points during the run, including a fast-break dunk off an assist from Akins that wowed the opposing crowd.

Delta State would get no closer, however, as the Blazers would stretch their lead back to 12 by the 1:12 mark before halftime. The Statesmen trailed 48-39 at the midgame break.

The Statesmen return to action Friday when they host Shepherd Film Academy. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Delta State plays its last home game before the Christmas break Saturday when they host Loyola of New Orleans at 6 p.m.