GAME NOTES: Statesmen vs. Harding/Ouachita Baptist (2.12-14.11)
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CLEVELAND - The Statesmen (11-10, 5-3 GSC) of Delta State University have begun to right the ship with three consecutive wins over Christian Brothers (69-47), Arkansas-Monticello (72-65) and Southern Arkansas (67-66) in Gulf South Conference play. DSU will begin its week Saturday, Feb. 12 with No. 17 Harding University (17-3, 7-1 GSC), due to Thursday's Ouachita Baptist game being postponed due to winter weather.  Tip off is set for 6 p.m. at Sillers Coliseum. 

The Statesmen and Bisons are meeting for the 22nd time with the Statesmen holding a 13-8 edge in the series. HU defeated DSU 88-80 earlier this season at Rhodes Fieldhouse in Searcy, Ark.

On Monday, Feb. 14, the Statesmen travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face the Tigers (7-13, 2-6 GSC) of Ouachita Baptist University in a makeup of Thursday's game. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The game marks the 42nd meeting all-time between the two GSC foes with DSU leading the all-time series 31-10 after defeating OBU 91-83 in overtime earlier this season.

Both games on this week's schedule will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off with the “Shelter Insurance Locker Room Report.” Jimmy Smith and J.T. Webb will have the call.

After losing three games in a row, the Statesmen coaching staff and players have bounced back behind the play of Marqueys Brown (18.5 ppg/7.5 rpg) to win their last three games. The Memphis native scored 18 points and grabbed nine boards in the win over Christian Brothers, while dropping 19 points and pulling down five rebounds at Arkansas-Monticello. He had eight points and five boards in the 67-66 thriller at Southern Arkansas.

Senior guard Phil Turner (6-3/G) leads the Statesmen in scoring heading into this week at 15.9 points per game. The Grenada native ranks sixth in the GSC scoring and second in steals (46) at 2.7 per game.

Freshman point guard Jay Murphy is making the most of his opportunity as DSU's starting floor general. The former Bolivar Central star is averaging 4.4 assists per game, ranking fourth in the GSC, to lead the Statesmen. He also ranks third in the all-important assists/turnover ratio (2.13). Against GSC teams, Murphy is averaging 10.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.

The Statesmen have six players averaging in double figures during Gulf South Conference play, led by Phil Turner's 15.9 ppg. Chris Poellnitz (13.0), Arian Maliqi (12.5), Marqueys Brown (11.9), Jay Murphy (10.7) and Ken Mitchell (10.0) are also in double digits this season.