GAME NOTES: No. 19 Delta State University at University of North Alabama | Union University (2.20-22.14)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No. 19 Statesmen face a stiff week of competition this week, as Delta State (21-3, 14-2 GSC) travels to the University of North Alabama (16-8, 10-6 GSC) and Union University (11-11, 7-9 GSC). Thursday's showdown with UNA at Flowers Hall in Florence, Ala., will be the second this season between the two schools DSU defeated UNA 84-72 at Sillers Coliseum back on Jan. 16 behind
Devin Schmidt's 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
The game also marks the 81st meeting all-time between the Statesmen and Lions. UNA leads the series 41-39. In fact, Delta State hasn't won at Flowers Hall since Nov. 28, 2002 when the Statesmen downed the Lions 75-66.
Saturday's game at Union will be the 19th all-time between the Bulldogs and Statesmen. DSU claimed a 75-64 win over UU on Jan. 18 at Sillers Coliseum after
Mike Washington scored 18 points, cleared seven rebounds and blocked four shots.
It's been nearly 40 years since the Statesmen have won a game in Jackson, Tenn. DSU's last win was a 64-55 decision on Jan. 9, 1975. Last season, the Bulldogs edged DSU 54-49 at Fred Delay Gym. Union will also be observing Homecoming this Saturday.
DELTA STATE MAINTAINS LEAD IN GSC WITH FOUR TO GO
Last week, the Statesmen went 2-0 with victories over Lee (75-57) and Christian Brothers (66-56) to maintain their three game lead in the Gulf South Conference race over West Alabama. Delta State enters the week 14-2 in league play, while UWA sits at 11-5.
Thursday's opponent North Alabama has gotten back in the race after winning four straight and currently boasts a 10-6 league mark. Christian Brothers (9-7) and Alabama-Huntsville (9-7) are tied for fourth.
After this week's contests at UNA and Union, the Statesmen will wrap up the regular season schedule at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 27 versus Valdosta State University and Saturday, March 1 against the University of West Florida.
The Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is scheduled to be played March 6-9 at Samford University's Hannah Center. Tickets are on sale now at www.GSCSports.org.
STATESMEN MOVE TO NO. 19 IN NABC POLL
Delta State climbed one spots in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Top 25 to No. 14 after extending its win streak to 10 games after back-to-back wins over Alabama-Huntsville (59-51) and West Alabama (92-70).
It's the highest ranking for the Statesmen since holding the No. 1 spot to end the 2005-06 regular season. DSU debuted in the NABC Top 25 at No. 24 on Jan. 7, 2014.
MADGEN TOPS 500
Jack Madgen, a sophomore shooting guard from Williamstown, Australia, eclipsed the 500 career points plateau after scoring eight points in DSU's 66-56 victory over Christian Brothers on Feb. 17 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. In two seasons for the Statesmen, Madgen has played in 51 games, scoring 508 points and dishing out 160 assists. He is also 74-of-197 from 3-point range, needing just 13 made 3-pointers to crack DSU's all-time top 10.
READUS MAKING CASE FOR NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Since transferring from Jackson State,
Willie Readus has led the Statesmen to the top of the table in the Gulf South Conference. The powerhouse stands 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 265 pounds. His power is what sets him apart, as the league's leading scorer (20.0 ppg) and rebounder (11.1 rpg) looks to keep DSU in the hunt for the GSC title.
In his last game, Readus, a senior from Morton, Miss., scored 16 points and hauled in 13 rebounds to help DSU claim a 66-56 victory over Christian Brothers for his 14th double-double of the year. In DSU's 75-57 win over Lee on Thursday, Readus scored 20 points and handed out a career best four assists.
Readus, who ranks ninth in the NCAA in total rebounds and double-doubles, is connecting on 52.1 percent of shots this year. He is 163-of-313 from the floor and an outstanding 155-of-208 (74.5 percent) from the free throw line. Readus has scored in double figures in every game, including 20 games with 16-plus points.
In his 14 double-doubles, Readus is averaging 21.4 points and 14.1 rebounds. His numbers are also markedly consistant against the GSC, where the power forward is scoring 20.3 points and grabbing 11.1 rebounds per game.
READUS NEARING 500 POINTS THIS SEASON
Each game, senior power forward
Willie Readus inches closer to 500 points in just one season with the Statesmen. The transfer from Jackson State has scored 481 points for a 20.0 points per game average.
SCHMIDT STANDING OUT AS FRESHMAN
Devin Schmidt, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Sevierville, Tenn., has made a case for Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year after leading DSU to an 21-3 record and No. 19 national ranking. The freshman is averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for coach
Jim Boone's Statesmen.
In his last two outings, the former Sevier County standout led the Statesmen to wins over Lee (75-57) and Christian Brothers (66-56) by scoring 21 and 14 respectively.
In DSU's 16 games versus the league, Schmidt is averaging 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Prior to GSC play, Schmidt was averaging 9.4 points per game.
In his first season in the GSC, Schmidt ranks eighth in scoring (15.6), ninth in rebounding (6.0) and fourth in assists (4.0) per game. His 1.3 assists/turnover ratio is sixth.
SCHMIDT CHASING 100-ASSIST MARK; CHASING BROWN
Point guard
Devin Schmidt needs five assists in Delta State's last four games to become the first freshman player since the legendary Carl Brown in 1982-1983 to top 100 assists. Brown, an All-American and DSU's all-time leading scorer with 1,799 points, dished out 147 assists in his first season as a Statesman.
Schmidt has already passed numbers set by DSU's top two assist men as freshmen. Scott Nagy, who owns the school record with 549 assists, tallied 74 in 1984-1985. Chad Akins just missed out on breaking the career mark with 544. He totaled 75 as a freshman in 2006-2007.
DEFENSE NAME OF THE GAME FOR BOONE'S STATESMEN
The Statesmen are led by one of the nation's top defensive coaches in
Jim Boone. The 27-year veteran skipper has hung his hat on his ability to draw up defenses to stop any opponent. Through 24 games, the Statesmen are allowing a league-best 64.3 points and 39.1 percent shooting per game; ranking 13th nationally in scoring defense and ninth in field goal percentage defense.
OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT FOR THE STATESMEN
A year ago, the Statesmen offense averaged 59.5 points per game, but this season coach
Jim Boone has turned up the offense to a blistering 74.8 points per game, ranking fifth in the GSC. DSU has eclipsed the 80-point plateau 10 times this season.
IN EXTRAS
The Statesmen boast a 2-0 record this season in overtime. DSU defeated Eckerd 79-73 on Nov. 10, and Alabama-Huntsville 86-83 in Huntsville, Ala., on Dec. 21.
WASHINGTON STEPPING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
Senior center
Mike Washington ranks second in the race to lead the GSC in field goal percentage. The Sanford, Fla., native is hitting on 58.0 percent of his shots this season after making 77-of-133 attempts. He enters this week's schedule averaging 8.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
WEEMS WAY
Senior shooting guard
Michael Weems enters this week's action ranking third in 3-point field goal percentage in the GSC. The Milwaukee, Wisc., native has nailed 24-of-56 from beyond the arc or 42.9 percent.
BIG CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SMITH, JR.
Sophomore forward Zelvin Smith, Jr., has made some major contributions for the Statesmen since the start of Gulf South Conference play. In DSU's 66-56 win over Christian Brothers, the Reserve, La., native scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in a key stretch in the second half. He added 11 points versus Lee and had 12 points in a win over West Georgia.
CHISHOLM KEY COG OFF BENCH
Redshirt sophomore forward
Alister Chisholm has embraced his role for the Statesmen this season. In 24 games, the Toronto, Ontario native has scored 130 points for a 5.4 points per game average. He's also clearing 3.0 rebound and 12.8 minutes per game. Chisholm has scored in double figures six times with a career-high 16 points versus Champion Baptist.
FREE THROWS & FEWER FOULS LEADING TO SUCCESS
There's no secret to the early success for the Statesmen this season. It's been the free throw line. In 24 games, DSU has attempted 637 free throws, which tops last season's total of 427 in 27 games, to our opponents' 332.
The Statesmen are 468-of-637 at the line for 73.5 percent. DSU is attempting 19.5 free throws per game, while the opposition is attempting 9.8 per contest.
A direct correlation for DSU's dominance at the line is its No. 2 national ranking in fewest fouls per game. The Statesmen have committed just 335 fouls this season or 14.25 per game. DSU ranks second out of 297 schools featured in the NCAA statistic.
SCORING MARGIN
Delta State enters Thursday's game at North Alabama leading the GSC in scoring margin at 10.5 points per game. DSU is holding opponents to 64.3 points per game, while scoring 74.8 per contest.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
Senior center
Mike Washington and guard
Cornel Knight have proven to be two of the GSC's best when it comes to blocked shots. Washington enters the week ranked second in the league with 36 blocks (1.6 bpg), while Knight is fifth with 22 blocks (0.9 bpg).
STATESMEN TOP LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL
Delta State's 67-56 victory at Lee on Thursday, Jan. 9 was the 12th this season for coach
Jim Boone and the Statesmen, topping last year's win total. DSU went 11-16 last year in coach Boone's inaugural season at Delta State.
BOONE TOPS 450-WIN PLATEAU
Statesmen head coach
Jim Boone claimed a memorable 86-82 overtime victory at Spragins Hall on Dec. 21, 2013 over Alabama-Huntsville to eclipse the 450 wins plateau for his career. His career record stands at 462-347, but he owns an outstanding 370-185 mark in NCAA DII play.
Boone (West Virginia State, 1981) is in his second season as head coach at Delta State (27-18). He guided the Statesmen to a 11-16 overall finish in 2012-13 in his first season at DSU.
STATESMEN CLAIM 1200th VICTORY
Delta State eclipsed the 1,200 win plateau after defeating Selma 90-71 and Champion Baptist 78-37. The Statesmen are 1,216-807-1 all-time, boasting the second most victories in Gulf South Conference history with 713.
