Box Score
FLORENCE, Ala. – The No. 19 Statesmen of Delta State University suffered a heartbreaker in Florence, Ala., on Saturday night as they fell to the Lions of North Alabama 97-89. The Green-and-White slip to 21-4 on the season and 14-3 in Gulf South Conference play, while UNA improves to 17-8 overall and 11-6 in league play.

As the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the conference, a lot was riding on the contest in Florence, Ala. Delta State was looking to beat the Lions on their home court at Flowers Hall, a feat that has not been accomplished by the Statesmen since Nov. 28, 2002. DSU fell short as UNA sought and found redemption from their loss to the Statesmen earlier this season at Walter Sillers.

The Statesmen were in control of the lead as they had the 5-2 advantage at the first media timeout thanks to buckets by Mike Washington and Cornel Knight and a free throw from Knight. DSU continued its up-tempo attack on North Alabama out of the timeout when Zelvin Smith, Jr. found the bottom of the net to extend the lead to 7-2. North Alabama answered on back-to-back possessions with a layup and a goal from behind the arc to notch the game at 7-7. The Lions took the lead on a three-pointer, 13-11, but Devin Schmidt snatched it back with a three of his own to put the Statesmen back up, 14-13, with 12:35 to go in the half.

North Alabama regained the lead at the 11:48 mark and never looked back. The Lions posted a momentum-changing 23-9 run with 4:52 remaining in the half.

UNA closed out the half with a layup to go up 54-34 and lead by 20, its largest lead of the half.

The Statesmen came out of the locker room with a vengeance as they quickly began to chip away at the North Alabama lead. Trailing by the largest margin of the night, 22 points, at the 19:18 mark, the Green-and-White went on a 16-0 run in a six minute period, cutting the lead to six, 56-50 still in favor of UNA.

The Lions extended their lead with two jumpers before Willie Readus knocked down a shot in the paint. With the UNA lead back to nine, Delta State's Devin Schmidt made two free throws and Michal Weems drained a three to inch within four points, 64-60 with 8:13 remaining in the contest. 

North Alabama went on the decisive 11-3 run in less than two minutes to put the momentum back in its favor. The Statesmen got back within as many as eight points, but the shots were not falling for Delta State like they were for North Alabama, as the Green-and-White went on to fall to UNA 97-89.

Four Statesmen contributed double figures, with Devin Schmidt leading the pack with 20 points. Cornel Knight followed close behind with 19 points, while Mike Washington added 17 and Willie Readus added 13.

The Lions' defense was able to shut down Readus in the paint for the entire first half, holding him to no points.

DSU shot 50.0 percent from the field on the night which paled in comparison to North Alabama's 60 percent from the field. The Lions also outshot Delta State from downtown, shooting 68.8 percent from three-point range and DSU shooting 42.9 percent.

The Statesmen will hit the hardwood again in Jackson, Tenn., when they face the Bulldogs of Union University on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.