VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Union University men's basketball team fell to 2-seed Valdosta State, 100-80, in the Truist GSC Championship quarterfinal round on Tuesday night.
 
The nationally ranked Blazers (24-5, 18-4) used a 53-point first half and six double-figure performances to sink the Bulldogs, whose season closes with a 13-16 mark overall and a 9-13 conference record.
 
With the teams tied at 26 with under seven minutes to play in the first half, VSU closed the period on a 27-5 run and led by 22 at the break.
 
GSC Freshman of the Year Judson Bjornstad ended his rookie campaign strongly, scoring 17 points on 7-11 shooting and 2-3 from three. CJ Jackson led Union with 21 points; Parker Applegate posted his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. In his final game as a Bulldog, Jeremiah Littlepage was credited with a career-high seven assists.
 
Union out-shot the hosts 50.0% to 45.7% from the floor and 45.8% to 34.6% from three but turned over the ball 20 times to Valdosta's six. The Blazers held a 17-19 to 5-7 advantage at the line.
 
MJ Jones led VSU with 20 points, while Drew Mills (18), Braxton Williams (15), Carlos Hart (15), Cobey Harraway (13), and Maalik Leitch (10) joined in double-digit scoring.
 
The Blazers advance to play 3-seed Montevallo in a 7:15 p.m. Saturday semifinal and, with a win, the winner of UAH-Delta State in Sunday's title game.
 
-UNION-