ROME, Ga. – Valdosta State used 14 three-pointers to top men's basketball tonight, 93-76.

The field goals from beyond the arc proved to be the difference maker as the Blazers hit 14 of 27 attempts from deep, while the Hawks made only 6 of 23.

The loss drops Shorter's record to 8-4 overall and 3-4 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State improves to 10-3 and 5-2 in the GSC.

The Blazers jumped out to a 17-9 lead, but Eric Ross and Cole Birchfield carried Shorter, not allowing the visitors to build a sizeable lead.

Ross' layup with 12:33 remaining in the first half cut the VSU lead to six, and although the visitors built an 11-point lead, Birchfield hit two three-pointers, while Ross added a dunk, helping the Hawks go on a 10-0 run in under two minutes.

Freshman Damerit Brown was the only other Hawk to score during the run, which cut Valdosta State's lead to one, 25-24.

The Blazers took a double-digit lead for the second time with only 1:32 remaining until halftime, but Phil Taylor and Ross made it a six-point game, before a VSU free throw sent the Hawks to the locker room trailing by seven, 43-36.

In the second half, Shorter got within two points thanks to the play of Amonte Potter, Taylor, and Ross, but the Blazers began to pull away with just over 13 minutes to play.

Valdosta used an 18-4 run to build a 17-point advantage before Taylor scored six straight points to cut the Hawks deficit to 11.

The Blazers, however, answered Taylor's comeback attempt, as well as subsequent comeback attempts by Shorter, and led by 20 with 1:40 left.

Taylor's free throws made it a 15-point contest with 60 seconds remaining but Valdosta State left Rome with a 93-76 victory.

Taylor led Shorter with 33 points, while Ross turned in a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Birchfield added 15, including four three-pointers. VSU's Damian Young and Jeremiah Hill scored 34 and 33 points respectively.  

The Blazers shot a scorching 57% in the opening half and 53% for the game. The Hawks shot 37% in both halves. Shorter went to the free throw line 32 times and made 26 attempts. Valdosta shot 17 of 22 at the charity stripe.

Next up, the Hawks will continue conference play with a trip to Union University. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, in Jackson, Tennessee.