Box Score
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 20 Statesmen of Delta State University continue to dominate in conference play as they defeated the Argos of West Florida, 71-57, Saturday afternoon. The Green-and-White improve to 16-2 on the season and 9-1 in conference play, while the Argos fall to 3-13 overall and 2-8 in league play.

The Statesmen looked to continue their conference streak to an eight-game league win streak. Delta State has an obvious target on its back after sitting at the top of the Gulf South Conference for the past few weeks.

The matchup was level throughout the start of the opening half before the Statesmen ran away with the score. Leading 15-8 at the 12:23 mark, goals from Willie Readus, Alister Chisolm, and Devin Schmidt put the Green-and-White up 21-17 at the under eight-minute media timeout. Delta State continued to find the bottom of the net as they went into the locker room leading the Argos 34-29. Readus was the difference maker in the first half as he led both teams with 16 points at the half. UWF's defense held freshman phenom Devin Schmidt to a narrow four points in the first 20 minutes of play. The Statesmen shot a whopping 54.5 percent from the field to take the advantage over West Florida.

Out of the break, the Argos made a comeback early on. West Florida inched within three points of the Statesmen as they took advantage of DSU turnovers. The under-16 media timeout score read DSU 39, UWF 36 with plenty of ball game left to play. An Argo basket at the 14:58 mark deadlocked the game at 39 each. The Statesmen regained the lead, 43-39, on made free throws from Devin Schmidt and a driving layup from Jack Madgen. Baskets from Willie Readus and Schmidt extended the DSU lead to six, 50-43, with 9:23 left in the game. The largest lead of the night was held by DSU, as they led 71-57 with under a minute to play. Delta State held on to defeat the Argos, 71-57, to preserve its number one spot at the top of the Gulf South Conference.

Willie Readus and Devin Schmidt guided the Statesmen to the win over West Florida with 23 points and 20 points respectively. Readus has scored in double figures every game this season. Cornel Knight and Mike Washington added 10 points each to join Readus and Schmidt in double figures.

Delta State shot 57.5 percent from the field, outshooting West Florida's 43.6 field goal percentage.

The Statesmen will return home to Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 30 to seek redemption as they take on the Tigers of West Alabama, the only conference loss Delta State has faced this season. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.