MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Bucs built a 16-point lead early in the second half and held on for a 91-87 win over Valdosta State Saturday afternoon at Canale Arena.

The Bucs (14-9, 11-8 GSC) used the combination of freshman guard Jeff Larkin (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle HS) and senior forward Sidy Sall (Dakar, Senegal/Seeds Academy) to go on a 16-4 run early to take a commanding lead. Larkin scored 10 points in the run on two triples, a layup and a pair of free throws that left the Bucs ahead 16-6 with 13:39 remaining in the half. Sall scored six straight points early in the run on two layups and a dunk The CBU lead stayed between five and 10 points for the remainder of the first half, with the Bucs pushing their edge to 10 five times but never beyond.

The Bucs opened the second half with a 9-0 run capped by a Charlie Oswald (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) triple that gave them a 51-35 lead with 17 minutes remaining. After the Blazers (9-16, 4-15) came as close as five points, the Bucs extended their lead back to 71-55 on back-to-back Trey Casey (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle HS) three-pointers with 8:44 remaining.

The Blazers followed with a furious comeback, using a 14-2 run to close the margin to 73-69 on a Jeff Nibo three-point play with 3:43 remaining. The teams traded baskets for the next three minutes before VSU came within 87-84 on a Jeremiah Hill triple with 21 seconds remaining. After the Bucs made three of four free throws to build their lead back to six, Jacob Obande buried another triple to again bring VSU within three at 90-87, but Larkin salted the game away with a free throw with 5.2 seconds remaining.

Sall led the Bucs with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, and Larkin scored 22 with six assists and no turnovers in 38 minutes. Casey scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half, adding eight rebounds and a game-best five steals. Oswald scored 15, while Fleming grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists to go with six points and two steals.

Jay Watkins led the Blazers with 15 points. James Spencer scored 13 with eight rebounds, and Hill added 12. Shaun Jones tacked on 11 points, and Nibo added 10.

The Bucs shot 52.5 percent (31-of-59) for the game to VSU's 44.8 percent (30-of-67), but the Blazers were a sizzling 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from three-point range to the Bucs' 34.8 percent (8-of-23). CBU shot 63.6 percent (21-of-33) at the charity stripe, while the Blazers were 72.2 percent (13-of-18). The Bucs out-rebounded VSU 41-32, including a 13-9 edge in offensive rebounds, but they committed 17 turnovers to the Blazers' 16.

With the win and West Alabama's win over Shorter, the Bucs moved into a tie for fifth place and stayed within two games of first with three games left in the GSC schedule. Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama are tied for first place at 13-6, followed by Union and West Georgia in second at 12-7. CBU, Delta State and Shorter are in a three-way tie for fifth place at 11-8.

The Bucs hit the road for the final time in the regular season Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. when they visit Alabama-Huntsville. They finish with their last two games at home. They celebrate Senior Day against North Alabama Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., and they conclude the regular season Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. against Union.