GAME NOTES: Valdosta State/West Florida at Statesmen Basketball (2.2-4.12)
Complete Weekly Release with notes, standings and stats in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (4-14, 0-7 GSC) of Delta State University continue Gulf South Conference action this week with against Valdosta State University (8-10, 1-6 GSC) and then take on University of West Florida (14-7, 4-3 GSC) at Sillers Coliseum.  Both games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network with Matt Jones, J.T. Webb and Clayton Coffman on the call.    

Delta State take the court at Sillers Coliseum against the Valdosta State University on Thursday, Feb. 2, to compete for their first conference win of the season. The Statesmen and Blazers have met 29 previous times with the green-and-white leading the all-time series 15-14.  

Saturday, Feb. 4, the Statesmen will remain at Sillers Coliseum to take on the University of West Florida. The green-and- white hold a slight edge in the short time of the series 5-3. 

Sophomore guard, Aaron Cooper returned to action this past week for the Statesmen against Christian Brothers University. Cooper went 3-for-6 from the floor and 1-for-2 from behind the arc for a total nine points in just 23 minutes of play in his return. Cooper is averaging 10.7 points per game on the season, and despite being out, is third on the team in assists with 36.

Arthur Jackson has stepped up his game averaging 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 25 minutes through the last four games. Jackson also led the Statesmen in scoring against Shepherd Tech and the University of New Orleans.

Terry Leake has stepped up his game since entering Gulf South Conference play averaging 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 27.9 minutes through the last nine games. Leake has also led the Statesmen in scoring in 6 of the last 9 games.

Mobile, Ala., native Cornel Knight has helped the Statesmen backcourt this season in a variety of ways. He's averaged 8.3 points per game, connected on nearly 26% from three-point land, has 2.2 steals per game and collected 5.6 rebounds per contest. 

Jason Conner enters this week's contests with a 91-66 record in his six seasons as head coach of the Statesmen.  The Lakeland, Fla., native needs just nine wins to top the 100-victories plateau. 

Through 40 seasons in the Gulf South Conference, Delta State is second in league history with 683 victories, 12 behind North Alabama (695). The Statesmen boast a .613 winning percentage during that time.

UP NEXT
DSU travels to Carrolton, Ga., to take on the University of West Georgia (2.9/7p.m.) and then on to Livingston, Ala., to take on the University of West Alabama (2.11/4 p.m.).  

SO WE MEET AGAIN!
The last time the Blazers outlasted the Statesmen in their previous matchup this season claiming an 81-61 victory in Valdosta, Ga. Delta State holds a slim 15-14 all-time lead against Valdosta State.

JECKYLL AND HYDE
When it comes to scoring offense the Blazers are second in the Gulf South Conference averaging 76.6 points per game, but are suspect on the defense end coming in dead last in the conference giving up 77.6 points per game. The Blazers also lead the conference in blocked shots with 95 on the year averaging out to 5.3 per game.

VSU OFENSIVELY BALANCED
The Blazers are lead in scoring by Michael Panaggio 13.2 points per game, led in field goal percentage by Josh Sparks .625, and Tristian Steele leads the Blazers in three-point field goals made averaging 2.2 per game.

ARGO GLASS CLEANING SERVICE
The University of West Florida Argonauts has made a living clearing rebounds of the glass this season giving the Argos a Gulf South Conference best +7.9 rebounding margin against opponents. UWF also ranks first in the conference in defensive rebound percentage .718 and offensive rebound percentage .372.

MOORE IS MORE
UWF senior, Jamar Moore, ranks fourth in the GSC in scoring with 17.4 points per game, second in rebounding 8.6 per game, second in assists 5.3 per game, second in defensive rebounds, and averages 31.6 minutes of playing time per game.

COOPER'S BACK
Sophomore guard, Aaron Cooper returned to action this past week for the Statesmen against Christian Brothers University. Cooper went 3-for-6 from the floor and 1-for-2 from behind the arc for a total nine points in just 23 minutes of play in his return. Cooper is averaging 10.7 points per game on the season, and despite being out, is third on the team in assists with 36.

STREAKS AND STREAKS
The Statesmen are currently riding a 12 game losing streak dating back Dec. 3, when the Statesmen lost a decision at Southern Arkansas 86-64. The longest losing streak by a Statesmen basketball team dates back to the '76-77 season under the tutelage of A.C. Williams where the Statesmen hit a 16 game skid. Head Coach Jason Conner is also 0-5 against the Blazers in his head coaching career at Delta State, with the last loss on Jan. 5, in Valdosta, Ga.

LEAKE LEADS BY EXAMPLE
Terry Leake has stepped up his game since entering Gulf South Conference play averaging 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 27.9 minutes through the last nine games. Leake has also led the Statesmen in scoring in 6 of the last 9 games.

LOOKING TO IMPROVE
The Statesmen are currently seventh in scoring offense and scoring defense in the GSC 18 games into the season. DSU is averaging 64 points per game while allowing 77.3 ppg.

DISTRIBUTING THE WEALTH
Through 18 games this season, the Statesmen have had five different players lead the team in scoring. Marion Military Institute transfer Terry Leake has scored a team-best 34 points (vs. Alabama-Huntsville) while transfers Cornel Knight and Aaron Cooper, each have led the team during the season. 

Also, Marquesys Brown has led the Statesmen in scoring four times and Arthur Jackson has tossed his name into the hat leading the team on two separate occasions. Leake and Brown are 11th and 18th, respectively, in scoring in the Gulf South Conference.

BROWN PROVIDING SENIOR LEADERSHIP   
Marqueys Brown has filled the role his coaches have asked of him through 18 games this season. He is second on the team averaging 11.3 points per game and first in rebounding with (5.7).

KNIGHT'S A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
Mobile, Ala., native Cornel Knight has helped the Statesmen backcourt this season in a variety of ways. He's averaged 8.3 points per game, connected on nearly 26% from three-point land, has 2.2 steals per game and collected 5.6 rebounds per contest.

DSU AMONG ALL-TIME BEST IN GSC
Through 40 seasons in the Gulf South Conference, Delta State is second in league history with 683 victories. The Statesmen boast a .606 winning percentage during that time.

SIZE KILLS
The Statesmen have been hitting the glass hard this season. DSU is fourth in the GSC in rebounding offense (35.8) and fifth in rebounding margin (+0.2).

LEAKE, KNIGHT AND THOMAS FORM SPECIAL BOND
Forward Terry Leake, Jr., guard Cornel Knight and assistant coach Marcus Thomas come to Delta State after spending the previous year at Marion Military Institute. Thomas coached the two players in the strict, order-following school in Alabama last season before making the way to Cleveland. Thomas ranks No.1 at MMI in career wins (56).