Box Score LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Delta State University men's basketball team fell 78-65 to the University of West Alabama inside Pruitt Hall on Thursday, Feb. 21. Mike Weems hit a career-high 20 points in the contest along with a career-high six three pointers. The Tigers used 11-of-21 (.524) shooting from behind the arc and a season-high 31 points from Steven Samuels to secure the victory.

Samuels sparked a 23-4 run to give the Tigers a 30-11 lead over the Statesmen in the early goings of the contest. Samuels and Jacob Acker combined for five three pointers in a seven minute span to go ahead 30-11 with 8:16 remaining in the half.

Delta State weathered the storm and rallied on a 22-9 run to close the gap to 39-33 to end the half. Terry Leake, Jr. posted 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor and Weems connected on 3-of-5 from behind the arc for 11 points.

The two squads filled up the basket in the first half with the Statesmen shooting 11-of-20 (.550) from the field but the Tigers managed to hit 14-of-23 (.609) from the floor and 7-of-11 (.636) from behind the arc.

West Alabama opened the second half on a 13-6 run to extend the lead back out to 52-39 at the 14:56 mark.

Weems led the Statesmen on a late 11-2 run to close the gap to 67-59 with 1:37 remaining but the Tigers closed out the game on free-throws.

Leake, Jr. finished the night with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor and seven rebounds. Cornel Knight tallied 10 points and six rebounds.

The Statesmen return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23, traveling to square off against the University of West Georgia inside The Coliseum. Tip is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.