RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. –It took two overtimes and saw three Delta State men's basketball players foul out of the game, but Saturday's contest between the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech (18-7, 8-4 GSCW) and the Statesmen of Delta State (19-6, 9-3 GSCW) will go down in the annals as one of the best between the two Gulf South Conference foes in the history of the series. Tech ended the affair with an 86-81 double overtime win.

The two extra frames forced an already thin Statesmen basketball team to play without three of its best players, as Chad Akins, Arian Maliqi, and Dmitry Pirshin all fouled out of the game.

Tech hit 26-of-38 free throws and out-rebounded DSU 51-39 in the win. The Statesmen connected on 28-of-72 shots for 38.9 percent, while the Wonder Boys shot 43.5 percent on 27-of-62 shooting.

Arian Maliqi led the Statesmen with 21 points, while Eric Spencer (17), Stanley Copeland (14), and David Clark (13) joined him in double figures.

Tech was led by Thiago Cordiero's 19 points and 10 rebounds. He also set a new school record for blocks in the win with eight.

After falling behind 10-2 to open the contest, the Statesmen proceeded to outscore the Wonder Boys 33-20 over the final 13 minutes of the half to lead 35-30 at the break.

DSU shot 43.8 percent in the opening half on 14-of-32 shooting, while ATU connected on 40 percent on 12-of-30 shooting. DSU was 4-of-7 from three-point range, but just 3-of-5 from te line. ATU was 2-of-10 from three and 4-of-9 from the line.

Arian Maliqi and David Clark led the Statesmen at the break with nine points apiece. Chad Akins had five assists, while Stanley Copeland added eight points off the bench.

ATU was led by Dusan Radivojevic's nine points.

The game stayed tight throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, as the contest was knotted at 51-51 with 9:50 remaining.

Creighton Parker's three-pointer with 8:37 remaining in the game gave Tech their first lead since the first half 57-54.

After trading several buckets, Delta State's Maliqi extended the Statesmen lead to three, 63-60, with just 2:26 left on the clock.

The Wonder Boys cut the lead to one, 63-62, on a pair of Troy Marcus free throws with 1:37 left.

The Statesmen came right back with a driving lay-up by Eric Spencer to extend the lead back out to three, 65-62, with 1:11 left.

After being fouled forcing a turnover, Maliqi calmly connected on two free throw attempts to put the green-and-white up five, 67-62, with 1:01 left.

Tech's Brandon Friedel made it a two point contest after drilling a 27-footer with 59.8 seconds left.

The Statesmen turned it over on the ensuing possession and fouled Tech's Chad Henderson. Henderson hit 1-of-2 to make it a 67-66 DSU lead with 42.1 seconds left.

Trying to dribble out the clock, DSU's Stanley Copeland dribbled the ball off his foot and DSU was charged with a foul trying to recover the loose ball.

Tech's Thiago Cordiero missed the front end and hit the second to tie it up with 23.1 seconds left.

DSU's desperation shot at the buzzer was blocked and the two teams headed into overtime tied 67-67.

After winning the overtime tip, Cordiero gave the Wonder Boys the lead 69-67 with 4:49 left.

The Statesmen answered back with a David Clark lay-up, tying the game at 69-69 with 3:48 on the clock.

ATU took the lead again, 71-69, on a pair of free throws by Henderson at the 2:21 mark.

Eric Spencer's kiss off the glass brought the game square once again 71-71 with 2:09 remaining.

After a Friedel turnover, Delta State took the lead 73-71 on another Spencer lay-up with 48 seconds left.

Henderson came right back down the court and tied it at 73-73 again with a lay-up off the top of the glass with 30.3 records left.

Maliqi gave the Statesmen the lead again with 8.4 seconds remaining on the clock.

With 0.1 seconds left on the game, Henderson tied the game at 75-75, but was charged with a foul in the act.

On the other end, DSU's Maliqi missed the front end of two. With the game on the line, Maliqi missed the second forcing a second overtime.

In the second overtime, several tough calls and Statesmen turnovers allowed the Wonder Boys to build a five point lead, 80-75, with less than two minutes to play.

After a Tech turnover, Eric Spencer was intentionally fouled driving to the cup earning two free throws and the ball. The Marion, Ark., native hit them both, cutting the lead to three.

Oliver Mansour made it a one point game for Tech, 80-79, with 1:04 remaining.

Henderson again provided the instant spark for ATU, drilling a three in the corner for the four-point, 83-79, lead.

DSU missed two point-blank lay-ups, allowing Tech to regain possession.

DSU was able to force a missed shot by Henderson with 28.1 seconds left. Spencer was fouled on the ensuing play and connected on both free throws to make it 83-81 ATU with 19.1 seconds left.

Trying to force another Wonder Boys turnover, DSU's Dmitry Pirshin was charged with his fifth foul with 14.7 second left in the second overtime. Tech's Radivojevic nailed both free throws to extend the lead 85-81.

Tech made one more free throw to seal an 86-81 double overtime win.

The Statesmen will return to Walter Sillers Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 26 for the final regular season game of the year, as Delta State hosts Harding University on “Senior Night.” Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and all Statesmen seniors will be honored before the game.

Tickets are on sale now at www.GoStatesmen.com or they may be purchased at the DSU Athletic Ticket Office at Chadwick-Dickson Field House. DSU also has a limited number of half-price tickets for the upcoming Gulf South Conference Basketball Tournament March 4-8 at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.