Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Christian Brothers University (18-10) advanced to their second consecutive Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship after defeating No. 25 Delta State University (24-6), 67-64, Saturday, March 8 in the semifinals inside the Hanna Center.  The victory was the first for CBU over DSU in the GSC's annual postseason dance and kept the Buccaneers hopes alive of repeating as league champion. 

CBU advances to Sunday's title game against the winner of Valdosta State-North Alabama, while the Statesmen will await the NCAA DII Selection Show to see where DSU will go dancing next week.  The show is schedule for 9:30 p.m. and is available at NCAA.com or by clicking here.     

The first half was a game of runs for both teams, as the Statesmen carried a slim 34-32 into the locker room over the Buccaneers despite shooting 65.2 percent.  DSU hit 15-of-23 shots from the floor, but turned it over eight times leading to 15 CBU points. 

CBU built its largest lead of the half just four minutes in, 10-6, before the Statesmen went on 14-2 run over the next 5:10 of play.  During the stretch, DSU was 5-of-8 from the floor, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

The Bucs draught continued until Harry Green went on personal 6-0 run to cut the DSU lead to two, 20-18, with 9:02 remaining in the half.

After DSU's Cornel Knight and CBU's Sidy Sall traded layups, the two clubs ended the half scoring 12 points each. 

Readus led all scorers with 17 points in the half, while Green kept pace with 15 points, making 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. 

Christian Brothers opened the second half on an 13-4 run to take 45-38 lead with 14:42 to play in the half, as Delta State began the second frame an ice cold 1-of-8.  Cory McArthy's two 3-pointers help the Bucs extend the lead to their largest of the night. 

A running layup by Readus ended the dry spell to cut it to 45-40, but CBU's Charlie Oswald drained a 23-footer to extend it to eight points, 48-40, with 13:02 to play.

Jack Madgen's 3-pointer with 4:39 to play made it a two point contest, 54-52. 

CBU's Fleming returned the favor on the other end with a layup after a perfect ball screen by Sidy Sall.  The bucket extended the Bucs' lead by back four, 56-52. 

DSU and CBU traded baskets over the next two minutes to set the stage for a cardiac finish. 

Trailing 60-54 with 1:58 to go, Mike Washington slammed home a dunk off an in-bounds play to make it a four-point game. 

Green's missed 3-pointer with 1:26 on the clock allowed the Statesmen to inch closer as Readus was fouled.  The senior from Morton, Miss., made both foul shots to cut it to two points, 60-58. 

McArthy's 23-footer with 37 seconds left, put the Bucs up 63-58. 

A driving layup by Knight rimmed out, but the senior was fouled on the play and made both shots to make it a three-point game with 25 seconds left. 

McArthy's missed jumper and a foul by Fleming put Madgen at the line with 21 seconds remaining.  The sophomore guard nailed both shots to cut it to 63-62. 

After the Statesmen failed to intercept the in-bounds pass, DSU's Alister Chisholm had to foul Oswald.  The sophomore forward for CBU made both shots with 16 seconds left, extending it back out to a three-point game, 65-62. 

Readus had a good look at the top of the key to tie it, but the effort rimmed out with Washington clearing the rebound.  After CBU's McArthy was whistled for the foul, Washington hit both free throws to make it 65-64 with 5.8 seconds left on the clock.

DSU again had to foul and CBU's McArthy made both shots to give the Bucs a 67-64 lead with 4.8 seconds left.

Readus's 3-point attempt found the iron unkind, as the Bucs claimed the 67-64 win. 

The Statesmen swept the Buccaneers during the regular season, claiming a 65-63 victory at Canale Arena in Memphis, Tenn., and a 66-56 win at Sillers Coliseum in the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 17 in Cleveland. 

Saturday's game was unlike the first two, as the Statesmen turned the ball over 11 times leading to 22 Buccaneer points. 

The Statesmen struggled from the field in the second half, hitting on just 32.1 percent of their attempts (9-of-28), while the Bucs made 45.5 percent (10-of-22) and 4-of-8 from 3-point land. 

DSU finished the night shooting 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field and 80 percent at the line (12-of-15).  The Statesmen also made 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. 

CBU closed the contest making 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the field, but hit eight 3-pointers and 15-of-20 at the free throw line in the win. 

Readus led all scorers with 27 points.  The former Jackson State transfer was 11-of-20 from the field and 5-of-6 at the line, while clearing eight rebounds. 

Knight and Madgen joined him in double figures, as the duo scored 13 and 11 respectively.  Devin Schmidt collected a career-high 11 rebounds and handed out four assists. 

Green paced CBU with 18 points, but McArthy's 15-point second half effort was a major difference in the game.  Trey Casey also reached double digits with 12 points.