Dustin Swedelson
Staff Writer
dmswedelson@valdosta.edu
The Blazers were a few seconds from avenging an earlier loss to West Georgia. Before anyone knew it, Terrence Hundley had the crowd silent. Had the Lady Blazers not lost in the last seconds of play in their earlier game, it may not have been as disheartening. Revenge was seconds away, and it slipped from their grasp.

The VSU men’s basketball team was up 15 points in the second half, as Tristan Crawford was emerging into the compliment player the “Big Three” (Jamahl Stokes, Ricky Coleman and Devario Hudson) needed. The headline was all but made; “The Big Three and TC”. A couple missed free throws and not enough time on the clock broke the hearts of fans looking for revenge.
The Blazers dominated most of the game. But, I guess it was really the “The Big Three” and Crawford dominating the game. Hudson had a career high 32 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Jamahl Stokes blocked four shots and added six rebounds and points. Ricky Coleman went for 22 points and seven rebounds. Tristan Crawford added nine points, five rebounds and five assists. With those five assists came just one turnover for the sophomore. Meanwhile the Blazer point guards struggled all night.

Three point guards combined for 11 turnovers, adding only three points and four assists. Crawford, not running the point had more assists than those three combined. It seemed every time a point guard did something right, they would go down court and do something wrong; errant passes, carelessness with the ball, not finding the open man immediately.

Meanwhile Tristan Crawford has become the story for the Blazers, emerging as a slasher-type, in the Mike Crain mold. Over his last two games he has taken stress off the “Big Three”. Down the stretch his success will be vital, if the Blazers are to do anything major.

The Blazers hopes are still alive for the Gulf South Conference Tournament. VSU is tied for second in the GSC East, but will need to protect the ball better in the backcourt if they are going to win on the road.

Looking for a berth and the best seed possible, VSU faces their remaining games as must win situations. The Blazers, who have just two in-conference road wins, must go into Montevallo and North Alabama and take down to teams that historically give the Blazers a run for their money. Montevallo, along with West Florida have an opportunity to knock VSU out of the conference tournament if everything falls into place for them.

This is the season: win out and you’re safe, lose and your fate my be out of your hands. If the Blazers can play like they did for 90 percent of the West Georgia game, they will be in the conference tournament. Play like they did for the other 10 percent and I will have as many points as the “Big Three” have in the conference tournament.