Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss.—The Statesmen basketball team was looking for revenge on Southern Arkansas, as the two teams faced each other for the second time this season. Revenge would not come for the Statesmen, as the Muleriders cruised to an 81-58 victory Saturday night. It was the first time Southern Arkansas defeated Delta State in Walter Sillers Coliseum since Nov. 23, 1984.

The first half was a back-and –forth affair, as the Statesmen cut a seven point deficit to just two at halftime. Sophomore guard Aaron Cooper created a turnover for the Statesmen, and hit a three-point shot at the buzzer. The bucket made it a 28-26 game at the half.

Junior forward Terry Leake led the Statesmen in the first half with nine points, and Cooper scored six in the opening 20 minutes. Chase Spruiell led Southern Arkansas with six points at the half, and Juvon Demerson scored four points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The Statesmen (4-5) made a run in the second half, and cut an eight-point deficit to just one with 16:20 to go. However, Southern Arkansas then came up with a run of there own, and took control for the remainder of the game. Over the final 15:48, Southern Arkansas outscored the Statesmen 44-26 en route to the 81-58 win.

Leake led the Statesmen in scoring with a game-high 20 points, and eight rebounds. Senior Forward Marqueys Brown scored 12 points, and Cooper had 10 to round out the Statesmen in double-figures.

The Muleriders (5-5) had four players in double figures.  Spruiell end the match-up with a team-high 18 points, and also grabbed eight rebounds. Demerson finished with the game's only double double at 12 points, and 10 rebounds. Casey Cheshier scored 15, and Rodney Hill chipped in 13 points.

For the game the Statesmen shot 20-of-51 good for 39.2 percent. They were three-of-ten from the three-point line, and 15-of-23 from the free-throw line. Southern Arkansas shot 24-50 for the game, good for 48 percent. The Muleriders were 4-of-11 of the three-point line, and 29-of-37 from the foul line.

The Statesmen are now off until the new-year. They will resume play Jan. 5, 2012 as they travel to Valdosta State. The game is also the Gulf South Conference opener for the Statesmen, and they will follow the Valdosta game by traveling to play West Florida on Jan. 7.