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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 17 University of Alabama in Huntsville men's basketball team returns to conference play on Thursday when it hosts Valdosta State at 7:30 p.m. at Spragins Hall. The Chargers enter the contest with a 10-3 (1-1 Gulf South Conference) mark, while VSU visits Huntsville with a record of 7-5 (1-1 GSC).
 
The Chargers bounced back and avoided consecutive losses with a 92-64 romp over Oakland City their last time out.
 
Five UAH players scored in double figures in the contest led by Jaime Smith's 19 points on the strength of five treys, and both Conner Blasi and Josh Magette recorded a double-double in the victory. Blasi set career-highs in points and rebounds with 15 and 10, respectively. Aided by Smith's showing from downtown, the Chargers connected on 12 3-pointers for the fourth time this season.
 
In the victory, Magette became just the second player in GSC history to register at least 700 assists, and his sights are now set on the all-time career mark of 737 set in 1979.
 
Magette enters Thursday's contest also needing just seven rebounds to reach 500 for his career which would make him the sixth player in UAH history to compile 1,000 points and 500 rebounds and the first to notch at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
 
Smith continues to lead the team in scoring as he is averaging 18.0 points per game on the strength of the nation's fifth-best 3-point field goal percentage of 51.9. His scoring average ranks tops in the conference, helping his team to be the GSC's best offensive team as the Chargers are averaging 80.4 points per game.
 
The Chargers will be looking to right the ship in conference action after falling 82-79 in overtime at West Georgia last Saturday.
 
VSU had a similar fate in its last GSC contest as it fell 80-79 in overtime to Christian Brothers. In the loss, Tristan Steele scored 28 points, and he currently sits second on the team with 13.2 points per game. Sidney Harris paces the squad with a scoring average of 14.3.
 
The Blazers own the upper-hand in the all-time series with UAH, posting a 23-16 record against the Blue and White but the Chargers have won the last three while also taking the last four in Huntsville.
 
Live stats and video for both games will be available at uahchargers.com, and the contest will also be carried on 97.7 The Zone and at 977thezone.com.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Chargers on Facebook (facebook.com/uahchargers) and on Twitter (@uahchargers), and supporters of the Blue and White may sign up for text and e-mail updates at uahchargers.com.