CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team opens the month of February at home by hosting Valdosta State University on Thursday night. Tip-off at A.E. Wood Coliseum is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: #24 Valdosta State (17-3, 12-2 GSC) at Mississippi College (4-13, 1-12 GSC)
Location: Clinton, Miss.  |  A.E. Wood Coliseum
Time: 7:30 p.m.
 

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THE SERIES
This will be the 33rd all-time meeting between the schools with MC holding a 17-15 edge in the series. The Choctaws are 11-4 against the Blazers in Clinton and 3-2 over VSU since re-joining the Gulf South Conference in 2014-15. The league-leading Blazers won the matchup earlier this season in Georgia, 103-79. Freshman Brandon Boston scored a career-high 18 points for MC in the loss.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE INFORMATION
Head Coach: Don Lofton  |  201-133 (.602), 13th Year at MC

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Stacey Mack (6'7, 229, Jr.) - 12.8 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Stacey Mack (6'7, 229, Jr.) - 7.9 rpg
Leading Assists: DeOndre Haynes (6'3, 180, Sr.) - 3.5 apg

LAST GAME: The Mississippi College men's basketball team had a 19-year streak of games with a three-pointer made snapped in a 95-79 loss at #19 Alabama Huntsville on Saturday. The Choctaws had made a long-range shot in 498 straight contests before going 0-for-7 in the defeat. Senior DeOndre Haynes and junior Stacey Mack each scored a team-high 21 points for the Choctaws.
 

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VALDOSTA STATE INFORMATION
Head Coach: Mike Helfer  |  218-122 (.641), 12th Year at VSU

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Jeremiah Hill (6'2, 170, Sr.) - 18.9 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Saadiq Muhammad (6'7, 220, Sr.) - 6.3 rpg
Leading Assists: Jeremiah Hill (6'2, 170, Sr.) - 4.2 apg

LAST GAME: The Blazers had five players score in double-figures in a 73-61 win at West Alabama on Saturday afternoon. Saadiq Muhammad had a team-high 18 points, while Justin Simon tallied a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. VSU shot 63% from the field in the first half, taking a 42-28 lead into the break.
 

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GAME NOTES
- The Choctaws are led by 13th-year head coach Don Lofton, who earned his 200th career victory on December 3rd in an 83-65 win over Selma.
- MC saw a 19-year streak snapped on Saturday against #19 Alabama Huntsville as they had made a three-pointer in 498 consecutive games before going 0-for-7 from long range against the Chargers. UAH pulled away for a 95-79 victory over MC as senior DeOndre Haynes and junior Stacey Mack scored a team-high 21 points.
- Mack (12.8 ppg / 7.9 rpg) leads the Choctaws in scoring and rebounding and has poured in double-figure points in nine straight games. The former McComb HS standout went 10-of-15 from the field in the loss to UAH.
- Junior Antonio Johnson (12.0 ppg), sophomore Xavion Dillon (11.5 ppg) and Haynes (11.4 ppg) are all averaging double-figures this season. Johnson is shooting 81% from the free throw line, while Dillon leads the team with 14 blocked shots and Haynes has a team-high 3.5 assists per game.
- The Blazers come into the matchup on a nine-game winning streak with their last loss coming on January 2nd against nationally-ranked UAH. In their last contest, VSU outlasted West Alabama 73-61 in Livingston with all five starters scoring in double-figures.
- Jeremiah Hill (18.9 ppg) is the reigning GSC Player of the Week and is the team's leading scorer, also leading VSU in assists and steals. Beau Justice (13.2 ppg) is shooting 42% from the three-point line and 81% from the foul line.
- Five Blazers are scoring in double-figures with Saadiq Muhammad (12.8 ppg) leading the way with 6.3 rebounds per contest. Damian Young (12.3 ppg) and Josh Lemons (11.9 ppg) are also averaging in double-figures.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.