VALDOSTA, Ga.— The Shorter Hawks came up short against the Valdosta Blazers on Friday night with a final score of 99-85 at the Complex in Valdosta. 

The loss causes the Hawks to fall to 1-2 and the Blazers improve to 4-0. 

Shorter took the lead at the start of the game and then with a back and forth fight for the lead in the first five minutes. Valdosta took the lead to 14-12 after two good free throws by Travis Bianco. After that, the Hawks were unable to catch up and ended half down by 19 with a score of 52-33. 

Coming out of the locker room, the Blazers kept the Hawks within a 14 point lead or more throughout the rest of the game. 

Senior Charles Botchway recorded his third straight game over 20 points with a total of 22 points, three rebounds, two steals and 12 assists. Ricky Knight Jr. scored a total of 20 point and added in three rebounds and one steal. Other Hawks that scored in double digits include Jay Shropshire with 13 points and Kelan Walker with 10 points. The top scorers for Valdosta were Cam Hamilton and Imoras Agee who each scored 20 points. 

The Hawks will head back to Valdosta tomorrow, January 9th for a conference matchup with tipoff slated for 2 p.m.