CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team will wrap up the 2014 portion of their schedule on Saturday afternoon when they host Valdosta State University at 4:00 p.m. in A.E. Wood Coliseum.

This will be the 28th all-time meeting between the two schools, dating back to their first game in the 1982-83 season. MC holds a 14-13 edge in the series, including winning seven of the last 10 contests. Their last meeting came in 1995-96 when the Choctaws picked up a 70-69 victory over the Blazers in the GSC Tournament.

Head coach Don Lofton is in his 11th season at the helm, winning his first two games of the season for his 180th career victory. Lofton has compiled a 105-30 (.778) record at home, including a perfect mark in the 2005-06 season.

The Choctaws grabbed their first Gulf South Conference win of the season on Thursday night with a 78-60 victory over West Florida, snapping a four-game losing streak. MC forced 27 turnovers, scoring 30 points off the Argo giveaways. Junior Tory Rice tallied a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Jay Case was 4-of-6 from the three-point line, scoring a season-high 17 points.

Rice leads the team with 16.0 points per game, shooting 58% from the field and 76% from the free throw line. He was a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line on Thursday night as MC is 30-of-33 (91%) from the charity stripe over their last two contests.

Junior Johnny Rucker is also averaging in double-figures with 14.6 points per game, shooting 50% from the field and 47% from the three-point line. He has scored double-figures in all but one game this season, posting a season-high 26 points against West Georgia.

The MC defense has been the key to their success this season as their opponents have shot less than 50% in their three wins and above 50% in their four losses. MC has forced 20 or more turnovers three times this season, including a season-high 28 against UWF.

The Blazers are led by head coach Mike Helfer, who has won 181 games over his 10 years with the program. VSU opened the season with four straight victories and earned a 74-71 at Delta State on Thursday night.

Blake Justice leads the way with 13.5 points per game, shooting 41% from the field and going 27-of-29 from the free throw line. James Spencer leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game, while scoring 13.3 points per contest. Jeremiah Hill (11.4 ppg) also averages in double-figures, while Josh Lemons leads the team with 3.1 assists per game to go along with 8.2 points per game.