CLEVELAND- Joe McCray scored eight points in the final 1:26 of overtime to help the Statesmen earn an 85-79 win over Arkansas Tech in overtime Saturday night at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Delta State improves to 13-5 on the season and 3-2 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Wonder Boys fall to 14-4 and 4-1 in the GSC. 

Both teams were evenly matched to start the ball game, with the lead changed four times throughout the opening half. 

The Wonder Boys shot 53 percent from the floor in the opening half, including 5-of-8 from three-point range.  All but three players on the ATU roster scored in the half. 

Delta State was held to just 38 percent from the floor, and 1-of-9 from down town, as they trailed by four at the break, 33-37. 

McCray was almost untouchable in the opening half, going 5-of-9 with 15 points. 

The Statesmen battled back and grabbed their first lead of the second half, with an easy layup by Oliver Mansour at 16:46 and slowly began to extend their lead going on a 10-6 run with less than 10 minutes left to play. 

Arkansas Tech fought back in the final 1:33 to tie it up at 75-75 on a pair of Thiago Cordiero free throws.

With the game tied 75-75 and 1.4 seconds on the clock, David Clark's lay-up was no good sending the game into overtime. 

In overtime, the Statesmen and Wonder Boys couldn't find any momentum over the first two minutes of overtime.  McCray hit a three-point basket to tie the game at 79-79, after ATU had taken the lead on Cordiero's lay-up. 

The Statesmen made a defensive stop to get the ball back and headed down court. On the ensuing play, McCray would get fouled behind the three-point line.  The junior made all three attempts to give the Statesmen an 82-79 lead. 

Tech's head coach Mark Downey was called for a technical foul after the play.  McCray hit both shots followed by two more from Chad Akins to seal the win. 

The Statesmen were 1-for-5 in OT but made 7-of-9 free-throws and outscored the Wonder Boys 10-4 in the extra period. 

McCray finished with a career-high 29 points and was one of five Statesmen to finish in double figures. Alton Robinson finished with the only double-double on the night, knocking down 15 points and grabbing 12 boards. Chad Akins dished out nine assists and scored 10 points.

ATU was held to 43 percent shooting on the night, and was 2-of-9 in the crucial overtime period. Thiago Cordeiro finished with a team-high 26 points. 

The Statesmen hit the road this Thursday as they take on Harding University in Searcy, Ark. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.