Box Score CLEVELAND – The Delta State Statesmen basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit and rallied past Concordia College-Alabama to pick up a 67-62 victory Tuesday night.
 
Jack Madgen and Mike Weems both had career highs on the night scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively.  Cornell Knight also had a career-high eight assists on the night.
 
Terry Leake, Jr. led all scorers with 23 as the Statesmen matched their total on the season with eight (50 percent) three pointers in the win.
 
The Statesmen (2-2) trailed by eight points at the end of the first half and by as many as 13 points on the night, but overcame the deficit with 64 percent shooting from the field, including six of eight threes in the second half.
 
The win was a turn of fortune for the Statesmen, who started strong last week but gave up an eight-point halftime lead in a three-point loss. The Statesmen couldn't get things going offensively in the first half as the Hornets (0-9) opened up its largest lead with a three pointer to go up 25-12 with eight minutes remaining.
 
Delta State made ground in the last few minutes of the half as Leake made a pair of jump shots and a free throw and Weems had a tip-in and three-pointer to help the Statesmen bring the gap back to six points.
 
Concordia made a jumper at the end of the half to regain a 33-25 lead going into the break.
 
The Statesmen shot only 34 percent from the field in the first half and were two-of-eight from behind the arc.
 
In the second half, Terry Leake gave the Statesmen momentum making jumpers on three straight possessions for the Statesmen early in the second half. Weems followed it up with a three to cut the Hornets lead to 39-34, forcing Concordia to a timeout.
 
Madgen hit a three-point shot to bring the Hornets lead to three, midway through the second half. A few minutes later, Lloyd Hickinson dunked a fast break to cut it to one.
 
Leake gave the Statesmen a 47-46 lead on the next possession with a put back after an offensive rebound.
 
The teams traded leads on the next four buckets of the game before the Statesmen opened up a 60-55 lead. Concordia followed with a three and a fast break lay up to tie it at 60 with two minutes remaining.
 
Madgen made a pair of free throws and Hickinson drew a big charging foul on the ensuing possession. Weems turned it into points, hitting his fifth three-point shot of the night to give the Statesmen a 65-60 lead with 38 seconds remaining.
 
After a bucket from Concordia, Leake sealed the victory with a pair of free throws.
 
The Statesmen were out rebounded 29-23 in the game but had only nine fouls to the Hornets 17. Delta State also forced 17 turnovers and had 22 points off turnovers. The Statesmen had 12 turnovers, but limited the Hornets to 10 points off those turnovers.
 
The Statesmen had 17 bench points to five for the Hornets.
 
Delta State will open Gulf South Conference play Saturday at 4 p.m. against Christian Brothers at Walter Sillers Coliseum.