GAME NOTES: Delta State vs. Union/Christian Brothers (1.29-31.15)

CLEVELAND, Miss. – Statesmen basketball at Delta State University are set to host Gulf South Conference action against Union and Christian Brothers this week. DSU will take on the Bulldogs of Union on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Bucs of CBU will make the trip to Walter Sillers for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, Jan. 31.

 

STATESMEN GAME DAY INFORMATION
Date/Location:	Jan. 29, 2015 | Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss. Jan. 31, 2015 | Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.
Tipoff Time:	Union | 7:30 p.m. Christian Brothers | 4:00 p.m.
Radio:	Statesmen Sports Network | Philip Tang (PxP) Scott Wyant (Color)
Series History:	48th meeting with UU; Statesmen lead series 37-10 91st meeting with CBU; Statesmen lead series 52-38
Live Audio:	Listen Here
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Live Video:	Watch Here

 
TIPOFF
After a tough week on the road that resulted in two losses, Delta State men's basketball returns home to Walter Sillers Coliseum for matchups with Union and Christian Brothers.

Earlier this season, the Statesmen took a 68-58 win at Fred DeLay Gymnasium in Jackson, Tennessee on Dec. 13, 2014. Alister Chisholm led DSU with 19 points, while Jamal Hester added a career-high 12 points. Union's Marterrace Brock led the Bulldogs with 19 points.

At the time of the first matchup of the season, Christian Brothers was ranked No. 20. Delta State traveled to Canale Arena in Memphis and earned the 72-68 victory against the Bucs. Devin Schmidt led the way for DSU with 19 points. CBU's Sidy Sall led all scorers with 22 points. The Statesmen shot 57.4 percent from the field on 27-for-47 shooting.

For the third week in a row and fifth this season, Cleveland native PJ Davis garnered the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week accolade. The forward ranks third in the league in blocks (1.9 bpg) with 36 of DSU's total 77 blocks.

The Statesmen and Bulldogs are now one game out of first place, both with records of 8-5. Five teams are tied for the top spot.
 
With a record of 5-21 at Walter Sillers, Union has not won a game on DSU's hardwood since Jan. 20, 1975. Of the five wins at Sillers, the average deficit is 12.8 points and 4.8 points in four out of the five.

Injuries have plagued the Statesmen in the past weeks with two of the original five starters out.

A native of Sevierville, Tennessee, Schmidt tied his career-high 35 points against West Georgia. The guard ranks third in the conference in scoring with 19.0 points per game. Davis also tied his career-high in rebounds against West Georgia with 12 boards.

After 52 games played in his career, Schmidt is on the verge of another career milestone. The sophomore has 860 careers points and 218 career assists.

Junior Jack Madgen holds the No. 3 spot in the league in 3-point field-goal percentage at 45.1 percent. His contribution has landed DSU the No. 1 spot in the GSC in the same category with a season percentage of 42.3 percent.

As a team, Delta State ranks fourth nationally in free-throw percentage (78.2 percent) and ninth in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.3 percent).

In games only, DSU ranks second in field-goal percentage (50.3 percent) and field-goal percentage defense (43.6 percent).

Up next for the Statesmen is a road series with West Florida on Thursday, Feb. 5 and Valdosta on Saturday, Feb. 7.