Box Score CLEVELAND— The Statesmen basketball team came into their Thursday match-up with No. 15 Alabama-Huntsville looking for an upset, and their first conference victory. Unfortunately, the Statesmen could not overcome a torrid start by the Chargers, and fell 84-68.

Alabama-Huntsville (13-3, 4-1 GSC) started the game hot, and scored the first seven points of the half. The Chargers hit 10 of their first 10 field goals, which included four three pointers.  The Chargers shot 70 percent from the floor in the first half going 16-of-23. Huntsville was 8-of-12 from three-point range, and a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line. The hot shooting allowed the Chargers to take a 52-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Jaime Smith led all scorers in the first half, as he dropped in 16 points for the Chargers. Smith was 5-of-7 from the field, and four-of-six from three-point range.

The Statesmen (4-12, 0-5 GSC) were sluggish at the start hitting just four of their first 17 shots. However, the Statesmen offense started to pick up in the later stages of the first half. The Statesmen finished the half shooting 12-of-31 good for 39 percent. Junior forward Terry Leake Jr. led the Statesmen in scoring with 13 points.

The Statesmen came out in the second half looking to get back into the game, and scored the first four points of the period. However, after the mini run by the Statesmen, the Chargers got back to work on the offensive end. Both teams traded offensive buckets as the game entered its final 10 minutes of regulation. The final 10 minutes of the game saw both teams continue to trade baskets, and finished with the Statesmen outscoring the Chargers 38-32 in the second half. Even with the second half scoring, the Statesmen could not catch the Chargers, as Huntsville came away with the 84-68 victory.

The free-throw line played a big part in the Charger victory. Huntsville took 16 shots from the foul line, and they made all 16. The Statesmen took 15 free-throws and made 9.

Leake led the Statesmen in scoring with a game, and career high 34 points. Leake was 13-of-19 from the floor which included 3-of-4 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Senior forward Rob Sikes tied his career high with 11 points for the Statesmen. Freshman guard  Caleb Miskelly scored three points, but he also contributed with a career high seven assists, and grabbed nine rebounds.

For the game the Statesmen shot 27-of-63, good for 43 percent. They were 5-of-10 from three-point range. The Chargers shot 28-of-50 from the floor, good for 56 percent. They were 12-of-27 from beyond the three-point line.

Smith led the Chargers in scoring with 24 points. Xavier Baldwin scored 14, Andrew Donovan scored 12, and Zane Campbell rounded out the Chargers in double figures with 10 points. Josh Magette scored six points, but he also dished out 12 assists, and grabbed six rebounds.

The Statesmen hit the road for their next game, as they face North Alabama on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Florence, Ala.