Valdosta, Ga. – The Delta State University Statesmen (0-2) fell 75-66 to the St. Leo University Lions Saturday in day two of the Sunshine State Conference/Gulf South Conference Classic in Valdosta, Ga.
In the first half the Statesmen started off quick with Chris Poellnitz connecting from beyond the arch with only six seconds off the clock. St. Leo answered with a three by Quentin Cullop. The first half was a back and forth battle until the lions broke out to an eight point lead after a layup by Walter Perkins that had SLU leading the Statesmen 26-18 with 5:40 to go before the break.
Poellnitz paced DSU with 12 points while senior Arian Maliqi added eight points for the green-and-white. Cullop led St. Leo with nine points shooting 2-0f-4 from beyond the arch.
The Statesmen shot 42.6 percent from the floor to SLU's 40 percent. Both squads shot 33.3 percent from three point range while DSU won the battle on the boards 23-18.
At the beginning of the second half the statesmen cut the deficit to five on a pair of free throws from Ken Mitchell. A three point basket made by Poellnitz at the 16:48 mark cut the lead to two but the Lions would increase the lead to six after a basket by Matt Kendrick with 15:58 to go in the game.
The lead would climb to ten for the lions after Cullop converted a three pointer with 13:27 left. The statesmen climbed to within four points on a three pointer from Maliqi with 6:36 to go but SLU would end the game on a 5-0, 76 percent run at the free throw line to seal the victory, 75-66.
Poellnitz led DSU with 21 points; Ken Mitchell added 15 and Maliqi finished with 11 points for the Statesmen. DSU shot 46.4 from the floor for the game
Matt Kendrick led the Lions with 23 points and Cullop had 15 points. Allen Young and Jeremy Jackson both scored 11 points in the victory.
The Statesmen return to the court on November 16th versus Victory University in Memphis, Tenn., tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
