Recap: Valparaiso vs. Ga Southern

Valparaiso, IN (Sports Network) - Kevin Van Wijk finished with 16 points as the Valparaiso Crusaders routed the Georgia Southern Eagles 85-54 in a regular season opener at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Also in double figures for Valparaiso (1-0) was Ryan Broekhoff (14) and Jordan Coleman (15) who did so off the bench. Erik Buggs handed out nine assists and Ben Boggs had a team-high seven rebounds.

Cleon Roberts led Georgia Southern (0-1) with 18 points while Eric Ferguson added 16 points and seven rebounds but turned the ball over eight times. Trey Bussey chipped in 10 points.

Valparaiso opened the game on a 17-2 run and led 40-21 at the half after shooting 46.4 percent from the floor in the first half. That included a 6- for-13 effort from beyond the arc. Georgia Southern shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and made just a single three point field goal.

It was more of the same in the second half with Valparaiso heating up to 60.9 percent from the floor. Georgia Southern improved to an even 50 percent but had only nine second-half field goals.

Valparaiso held a 31-23 edge on the boards and collected 14 steals. The Crusaders 39-12 from the three-point line.