By: Marese Hudson, Assistant Sports Editor 

In a thrilling overtime showdown at The Complex, VSU team rallied from a late deficit to beat Trevecca 113-104, giving head coach Mike Helfer his 400th career win as the Blazers’ coach. 

This is the Blazers’ second most points scored this season.  

Senior guard Peter McKey lead the charge with a career-high of 33 points, shooting 58% from the field, followed by Samarion Bond and Maalik Leitch, both notching 21 points. Blaise Wallace had 19 points and the most rebounds in the game with 15, making this his fifth straight game with a double-double and 11th of the season. 

McKey was named the Steel’s Jewely Blazer Athletes of the Week, his first player of the week honor this season. 

The Blazers were down 10 with about eight minutes of regulation to play, before the tide turned for VSU. 

“You know we have been in that situation a few times this year, and I used that,” said Helfer. “I told our guys this is not the first time we’ve been in a deficit like this late in the second half and were able to just not turn it over, take really good shots and we made them.” 

 McKey wasn’t the only one to get recognized this week, as Helfer was named Week 12 National Coach of the Week as he won his 400th game which makes him the second VSU coach to achieve 400 wins in their career. Former Blazer Head Coach James Dominey finished 436-343 in 29 seasons. Dominey was head coach from 1971 to 2000. “It means a lot for the players and coaches I’ve had, and that Valdosta State has been so special to me, Valdosta State is just a really cool place, and I’m thankful to be the coach here,” said Helfer. 

Helfer is in his 21st season and has a record of 400-206.  

VSU have an overall record of 14-8 this season, 9-7 against inner conference teams and a dominant home record of 11-2 which is the second-best home record in the Gulf South Conference. 

VSU looks to extend their win streak to four as they face GSC rivals, Delta State in Mississippi Feb 12, Thursday at 8:30 p.m.