MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks men's basketball team (5-21, GSC: 3-17) dropped a 105-98 decision to the Valdosta State Blazers (18-9, GSC: 13-8) on Wednesday night from the AUM Athletics Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Valdosta scored the first six points of the night before an Omar Zeigler three-point dagger put the Warhawks on the board. The orange and black took its first lead of the game at 19-18 just under the 14-minute mark after Devin Barksdale knocked down a triple.
 
The Blazers recovered its lead back quickly before the score stood knotted at 25 points apiece. Jacob St. Clair's deep three-point bucket put AUM back in front, however, VSU tied it back up at 33-33.
 
Jamarious Martin earned the lead back for AUM with a three, but Valdosta fought back to take a 49-42 advantage with under three minutes left on the clock.
 
The visitors scored six consecutive points before Max Ogbalet-Ndiaye closed out the first half with a triple.
 
The Blazers led 55-45 at the halftime intermission.
 
Second Half
The second half began with three-point buckets from each side, AUM's came from Barksdale. A 13-point streak from the opponents set the score at 71-48 before Martin's layup brought AUM to the 50-point mark and halted VSU's run.
 
The next field goal was a three from Valdosta which gave them its largest lead of the night at 24 points.
 
After an exchange of points, the Warhawks began to edge back. Eight of the next 10 points came from the orange and black, led by four points from Thiam. AUM continued to cut into its deficit with six more points from Thiam and a three pointer from both Barksdale and Zeigler, bringing the Blazers' cushion down to 93-80.
 
The battle continued as Ogbalet-Ndiaye hit a triple and Thiam added a layup to make it a six-point game with less than five minutes left in regulation. After some free throws from the other side, Martin and Ti'Avian Scruggs added buckets, and another Barksdale three cut the difference to five points.
 
Unfortunately for the Warhawks there wasn't enough time on the clock to mount a comeback as the Blazers would earn a 105-98 win.
 
NOTABLES

• Elhadji Thiam led AUM in scoring with 28 points while securing the double-double with 11 rebounds. 
• Devin Barksdale followed with 18 points while adding four assists and a pair of steals.
• Jamarious Martin totaled 14 points and four assists.
• Omar Zeigler notched 13 points and five boards.
• Ti'Avian Scruggs finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.

 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will close out the 2025-26 season with a game against West Florida on Friday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.


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