CLEVELAND – Five Delta State players scored in double-figures as the Statesmen downed Henderson State 92-75 at Sillers Coliseum to close out the regular season Saturday.
Jeremie Davis (Arcadia, La./New Orleans) and Roderick Ollie (Indianola, Miss./UAB) scored 22 points apiece to lead the Statesmen (19-7, 10-4 Gulf South Conference), who celebrated Senior Night in grand fashion with the win.
The Statesmen had already secured a spot in the postseason GSC Tournament in Southaven, Miss. next week. Delta State will face North Alabama in the opening round Friday.
Ollie also added four steals and three blocks to his line on the scoresheet.
Lance Smith almost singlehandedly kept the Reddies (8-19, 1-13 GSC) competitive in the game, recording a double-double with game-highs of 31 points and 19 rebounds.
Joe McCray (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Nebraska) scored 17 points and pulled in eight rebounds. He had the hot hand in the first half, as he scored all of points before halftime.
Marqueys Brown (Memphis, Tenn./Crichton College) recorded his fourth double-double of the season and second in his last two games for the Statesmen. Brown finished the night with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Eric Spencer (Marion, Ark./Arkansas-Fort Smith) scored 12 points and handed out eight assists for Delta State.
McCray and Ollie were a two-man show for the Statesmen in the first half, with McCray scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds before halftime. Ollie came off the bench and scores 12 points and registered three steals in the first half.
Smith kept the Reddies in the game during the first 20 minutes, registering his double-double before halftime with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Delta State held a 43-35 lead at halftime, and never saw its lead dip below six points through the rest of the game. The Reddies cut the lead to eight points with 3:45 remaining in the game, but a 6-0 Statesmen run secured the victory for DSU.
Dmitry Pirshin (Moscow, Russia/Gulf Coast CC) scored seven points and pulled in seven rebounds for Delta State. Chad Akins (Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS), who is chasing the DSU all-time assists record, added five helpers to bring his career total to 532. He is 27 away from tying the career mark.
Prior to the game, Delta State honored its 10 seniors who were playing in their final home game of their careers. The Statesmen recognized Davis, Ollie, McCray, Spencer, Pirshin, Akins, David Clark (Silver Creek, Miss./Lawrence County HS), Glenn Daniels (Cleveland, Miss./Mississippi Delta CC), Dino Hair (Picayune, Miss./Middle Tennessee State) and Earnesto Green (Jackson, Miss./East Central CC).
As part of Senior Night, head coach Jason Conner started Pirshin, Spencer, McCray, Davis and Daniels. It was the first start of the season for Daniels, who played his high school basketball at nearby East Side High School.
The Statesmen also honored graduate assistant coach Colby Harris, who will receive a master's degree in both in business and in physical education at the end of the school year.
The Statesmen open GSC Tournament play Friday in Southaven when they face North Alabama on Friday at DeSoto Civic Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
