West Palm Beach, Fla. – The Lynn University men's basketball team was unable to utilize a 17-point second-half outburst from Jamal Palmer as it fell to Valdosta State 101-93 on Saturday afternoon. Palmer ended with a career-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Vieux Kande posted another double-double contributing 13 points and 12 rebounds.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Valdosta State 101, Lynn 93 
Records: Valdosta State (4-0), Lynn (1-3)  
Location: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla.
Series: Lynn is 1-8 against Valdosta State (last meeting 2013)
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  First Half
  • Vieux Kande kept the Fighting Knights in the game early as he scored five quick points, and played a key role, leading the squad with seven rebounds in the first half.
  • The Blue and White kept an efficient 44.8% scoring pace, but Valdosta State let the ball fly from downtown, hitting 7-of-15 from long range.
  • Turnovers ended up hurting Lynn, as it lost the ball 14 times, allowing the Blazers to score 15 points off Lynn's miscues.
  • The Lynn guard play stepped up, with fast-paced playmaking ability from Palmer and Malik Morrow. Each ended the half leading the Fighting Knights with eight points apiece.
  • The squad entered the locker room down to Valdosta State 48-34.

•  Second Half
  • The Blue and White came out of the locker room on a mission, going on a 11-0 run to cut the lead down to five, 52-47 with 14:49 to play in the game.
  • Marquan Botley came out of the under 12 media timeout, breathing life into the Fighting Knight offense, beginning on a four-point play off a corner three, cutting the lead to 11, 66-55. Botley fueled the comeback attempt, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the second half. 
  • The Blue & White cut the lead to single digits with 8:30 left, but still trailed 72-64. The back-and-forth scoring continued as the Blazers hit a three-pointer to cut the energy out of the Lynn offensive surge.
  • Lynn eventually cut the lead down to seven with 1:20 on the clock, but the late push would not be enough to take the contest from Valdosta State.

 STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Palmer came off the bench, posting a career-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 6-of-9 from the free-throw line as well as grabbing three rebounds.
• Botley ended with 17 points, two boards, two assists and a steal.
• Kande recorded his fourth-consecutive double-double on a 13 point, 12 rebound performance, that included four blocks.
• Valdosta State trumped Lynn 45.5% to 23.3% from beyond the arc.
• The Fighting Knights outrebounded the Blazers 41 to 27 with 18 of Lynn's 41 boards coming on the offensive end of the ball.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Kande has now posted a double-double in three of Lynn's four regular season contests. His 13-point night ties his season high, last scoring the bakers-dozen against Florida Memorial.
• Palmer's 25 points is a career-best.
• Both sides featured 10 players who saw the floor.

UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights will take on Lee for game two in the Jay McCormick Classic tomorrow, Nov. 27 in West Palm Beach, Fla. with tipoff slated for 2:00 pm.