RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Valdosta State shot 55.6 percent from the floor as the fourth-seeded Blazers topped top-seed and host Arkansas Tech 72-60 in the semifinals of the NCAA South Region Tournament at Tucker Coliseum Sunday evening.

The victory marked the second time this season the Blazers have defeated the nation’s No. 1 team as they defeated then No. 1 Augusta State 81-75 on January 16. VSU also tied a school record as it picked up its 27th victory of the year, against just four losses. The Blazers also won 27 games during the 1966-67 season. Meanwhile, Arkansas Tech ended its season at 30-2.

Valdosta State raced out to a 17-4 lead as it hit its first six shots of the game, including five threes. Ricardo Lewis opened the game with a jumper before Brandon Friedel hit a basket in the lane for Arkansas Tech. Tristan Crawford proceeded to hit a three from the left wing and Ryan Nelson added another from the right corner before Marvin Dibble connected on a third from the right wing. Crawford hit his second trifecta of the run and, after James Giles scored on a basket for ATU, Lewis hit a three from the top of the key to end the run with 16:26 to go in the first half.

The Wonder Boys, spurred on by seven points off the bench by Renard Allen, fought back over the next 13 minutes as VSU went cold from the field. ATU held the Blazers without a bucket for eight minutes of the game, during which Valdosta state committed nine of its 12 first half turnovers while missing all four of its field goal attempts.

Arkansas Tech chipped away at its deficit throughout the VSU drought and eventually tied the game at 25-25 on a Jeremy Dunbar basket with 3:41 remaining in the half before Nelson ended the run with a three-pointer from the right corner to put Valdosta State back in front.

The Blazers held ATU to just three free throws over the remaining minutes of the half while adding buckets from Dibble and Marquis Robinson as well as a three from Crawford to lead 35-28 at the intermission.

Valdosta Stat shot 50.0 percent from the floor during the first half of play, including hitting seven of its 13 three-pointers in the frame. The Blazers also owned a 20-15 advantage in rebounding and held Arkansas Tech to 9-of-28 shooting in the frame.

The two teams played even through the first eight minutes of the second half as VSU held a 50-43 lead at the 12 minute media timeout before the Blazers used a 14-4 run to seal the victory. Tyrone Curnell scored two of the first three field goals during the run, with Lewis adding the third, while Irvin Humphrey gave ATU a brief reprieve with a lay-up. Dibble answered the Humphrey basket with one of his own and, after a Dunbar basket for the Wonder Boys, scored again while Christian Hunter hit a three and Crawford a lay-up to post the Blazers to a 72-54 lead with 2:45 remaining in the game.

The Blazers were held scoreless the remainder of the game, but saw Arkansas Tech connect on just two of its 10 shots over the final 165 seconds.

Crawford scored 14 points to lead the Blazers as he hit four-of-eight three pointers in the contest while Curnell tallied his second double-double in as many days as he finished with 12 points, on five-of-seven shooting, and 10 rebounds. The senior connected on two of his three free throw attempts in the game, giving him 158 made free throws on 226 attempts on the year, both of which are new school records. Hunter also poured in 12 while Dibble added 11 and seven rebounds.

Valdosta State connected on 30-of-57 shots in the game, including 10-of-21 three pointers. The Blazers also dished out 14 assists and finished with 16 turnovers, only four of which came in the second half of the game. VSU also owned a 39-36 advantage in rebounding.

Friedel led Arkansas Tech with 17 points and Dunbar added 14 as the Wonder Boys were held to 34.9 percent shooting. They connected on just 22-of-63 shots in the game, including only eight of their 31 threes.

Valdosta State advances to Tuesday’s Region Championship game where it will face No. 2 seed Rollins. Tip-off for the game is slated for 9:30 p.m. Eastern.