Box Score VALDOSTA, Ga. – Terry Leake, Jr.'s 22 points and career-high 16 rebounds were not enough to lift the Delta State University men's basketball team over Valdosta State University. The Statesmen fell 60-54 to the Blazers, despite holding the talented offensive team to 23 points below their season average.

Valdosta State tied the all-time series to 15 a piece with the victory and have claimed the last seven over Delta State dating back to 2005-06 season under then head coach Steve Reeves.

The Statesmen raced out to a 15-6 lead in the beginning of the first-half behind the shooting of Leake, Jr. and Cornel Knight.

The Blazers chipped away at the Statesmen lead to close out the half with a 23-17 advantage as the Green-and-White were held to just two points over the last eight minutes of play.

DSU rallied in the second half of play but VSU never let the lead slip away. The Statesmen closed the gap to 55-52 on a Knight bucket with 33 seconds left on the clock, but the VSU closed out the game connecting on five consecutive free-throw attempts.

Knight closed the game out with 13 points while freshman Jack Madgen produced a solid 14 point performance on 6 of 14 shooting from the floor.

The Blazers were led by Patrick Diop, who connected on 9 of 18 from the floor for 20 points and James Anacreon cleaned the glass for VSU racking up 11 total rebounds.

Delta State returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 2, traveling to face the Buccaneers of Christian Brothers University. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network.