VALDOSTA, GA. – The Delta State University Statesmen basketball team opened up the 2010-11 season with an 82-70 loss to Rollins College at the Sunshine State Conference/Gulf South Conference Classic on the campus of Valdosta State University.

  Friday was the first meeting between the Statesmen and Rollins. The Tars return four starters from a 2009-10 squad that reached the NCAA South regional final.

The Statesmen led 7-6 early in the contest; a Matt Robertson layup gave Rollins a 10-7 lead. The Tars never looked back.

 Robertson led the Tars in the first half with nine points shooting 4-of-6 from the floor. Myk Brown added eight points making all four attempts at the free throw line. Rollins took the half time lead as they entered the locker room with a 35-25 edge over DSU.

Senior Guard Arian Maliqi paced the Statesmen in the first half with nine points shooting 3-of-4 from the floor. Junior Forward Marqueys Brown added six points on 3-3 field goal attempts.

DSU shot 47.8 percent from the floor, while Rollins shot 46.4 percent. The Statesmen shot 33.3 percent, going 3-of-9 from beyond the arch while the Tars were 0-6. The Statesmen also out-rebounded Rollins 15-14 in the first half.

Delta State came out strong in the second half cutting the Rollins lead to 41-39. The Tars held a single digit lead until Chris Malcolm connected on a pair of free throws extending the lead to 68-57.

The Tars shot 65.4 percent from the floor to DSU's 48.6 percent. Rollins Matt Robinson led all scorers with 24 points on 10-13 shooting. Senior Nick Wolf added 19 points and eight rebounds in the victory for the Tars.

Chris Poellnitz led the Green-and-White with 20 points while senior Arian Maliqi added 16 points. Brown added 12 points and Ken Mitchell grabbed nine rebounds.

The Statesmen conclude play in the SSC/GSC Classic Saturday versus St. Leo University; tipoff is set for 5 p.m.