ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Delta State University Statesmen (10-3, 1-0 GSC) erased a four point deficit over the final 1:53 to claim a 67-62 victory over the Tigers (4-10, 0-1 GSC) of Ouachita Baptist University Saturday at Bill Vining Arena in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools.

Trailing 54-60 with 1:53 to play, the Statesmen forced three consecutive turnovers and converted all three into baskets to ties the game at 60-60 with 1:20 to go on Jeremie Davis' slashing lay-up.

DSU would force OBU's Julian LeDay to cough it up once again, leading to senior center Dino Hair's thunderous dunk on the opposite end, giving the Statesmen a 62-60 lead with 1:09 to play.

OBU's Kellan Stittiams tied it at 62-62 with a pair of free throws with 0:58 remaining.

Davis put the Statesmen ahead for good 65-62, canning a 26-foot three-pointer with 0:43 seconds left from the right elbow.

Chad Akins connected on two free throws with 0:04 left to seal the 67-62 come-from-behind win.

The Statesmen finished the game shooting 44.4 percent on 24-of-54 attempts from the field. DSU also hit on just 7of-21 three-pointers (33.3 percent) and 12-of-18 free throws (66.7 percent).

The Tigers finished at 41.1 percent for the game on 23-of-56 shooting. OBU hit 6-of-19 three-pointers and 10-of-13 free throws.

DSU out-rebounded OBU 38-34 and forced 12 Tigers turnovers compared to nine for the Statesmen.

Davis, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Arcadia, La., led all scorers with 23 points. He hit on 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-8 three-pointers. Roderick Ollie added 12 points and six boards with Marqueys Brown dropping in 10 points and two rebounds.

Akins finished with 11 points and a game-high nine assists.

OBU was led in scoring by Jeremy Banks' 17 points. Scott Day and Belford Williams added 14 each.

DSU tailed 34-32 to OBU at the half.

The Statesmen return to action Thursday, Jan. 14 at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Steeleman Fieldhouse in Monticello, Ark. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off. Jimmy Smith, J.T. Webb and Oliver Mansour will have the call.