Box Score FAIRFIELD, Ala. – Despite a late second half surge the Delta State University men's basketball team fell 57-50 to Miles College on Saturday, December 8 at Knox-Windham Gymnasium.
The Statesmen (2-4) started the contest off sluggish, giving up three turnovers sparking 6-2 run for the Bears (3-3) in the opening minutes. Senior forward Terry Leake, Jr. sunk a pair of free throws at the 17:25 mark in the first half to put the Green-and-White on the board.
Delta State and Miles went shot-for-shot until the Bears railed off a 10-2 run that extended the lead to 18-6 with 9:02 remaining.
Cornel Knight and Leake, Jr. led the charge late in the first half helping DSU climb back into the contest, by ripping off a 17-9 run to close the Bears lead down to 27-23 at the half.
Leake, Jr., a preseason All-GSC selection, led all scorers in the first half posting 10 points and six rebounds while Knight followed up with six points and four rebounds.
Ronald Fox, Jr., led the Bears with nine points connecting on 3-of-4 from the field and was 2-of-2 from behind the arc. Miles connected on 5-of-10 (.500) of their three point attempts in the first half of play.
The Statesmen finished the first half shooting 8-of-21 (.381) from the field and connected on 6-of-7 (.857) from the charity stripe.
Miles stretched its lead to as large as 14 points at the 6:05 mark the second half before the Statesmen rallied with a 16-5 run that culminated with Leake, Jr. hitting his first three-pointer of the year to make the score 53-50 with 00:36 ticks left on the clock.
The Statesmen were unable to break through in the closing seconds as the Bears connected on four consecutive free throws to close out the contest.
Leake, Jr. wrapped up the night posting 23 points and nine rebounds while Knight contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
Fox, Jr. ended the night with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from behind the arc to lead the Bears; Allen Stephon followed up with 11 points on the night.
The Green-and-White return to action next Saturday on Dec. 15, traveling to face Arkansas-Monticello with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
