CLEVELAND- It came down to the final seconds, with 1.3 seconds left on the clock Eric Spencer's half court effort fell short, as Virginia Union pulled off the 76-73 win Saturday night in the final game of the State farm Classic at Walter Sillers Coliseum. With the loss Delta State falls to 4-2, while the Panthers break even at 2-2. 

Delta State got off to a slow start to begin the ball game, as Virginia Union opened up on a 9-4 run. The Panthers continued to make the big baskets, leading by as much as 11 with less than three minutes left to play in the half. 

The Statesmen cut the deficit to five with back-to-back three point baskets from Brad Skipper and trailed by only five, 25-30, at the break. 

Virginia Union shot 38 percent in the first half; however the Statesmen defense stepped up forcing 10 turnovers and holding them to just 1-of-10 from behind the arch. 

Skipper led the Statesmen with eight points off the bench, while Alton Robinson and David Clark chipped in with six points apiece. 

Delta State was much improved in the second half, shooting 47 percent, but the Panthers were able to make the big buckets when it counted, making 57 percent of their field goal attempts in the final period. 

Robinson finished with a team-high 16 points and was one of four players to finish in double-figures. Joe McCray racked up 14 points, including three from downtown to lead the Statesmen. 

Gregg Thorndique finished with a game-high 26 points and seven boards to lead the Panthers. 

The Statesmen remain at home this Tuesday, as they take on West Alabama. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. 

In game three, Arkansas-Monticello (5-0) remained unbeaten on the season with a 65-52 win over Nova Southeastern (1-5). 

After a sloppy first half in which both teams combined for 18-of-50 from the floor, the Boll Weevils shot 44 percent in the second half including 6-of-13 from three-point range. 

The Sharks were the better team numbers wise, but it was free-throws that would eventually decide the win. The Boll Weevils were 15-of-26 while the Sharks made 7-of-13. 

Raymond Wright led all scorers with a game-high 26 points and six rebounds. Deron Brown was the only other Weevil to finish in double figures with 17. 

Alex Gynes narrowly missed a double-double for Nova Southeastern with 14 points and eight boards while teammate Tim Coenraad finished with 11.