CLEVELAND, Miss. – A pressure-packed contest with Union resulted in a disappointing loss, 79-70, for the Delta State University Statesmen at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday night. 

Inside the Matchup

• Score: Bulldogs 79 – Statesmen 70
• Records: Delta State (11-9, 8-6 GSC); Union (15-5, 9-5 GSC)
• Series: This marked the 48th meeting between the Bulldogs and Statesmen. DSU leads the all-time series 37-10.
• Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.
• Short Story: A pressure-packed contest with Union resulted in a disappointing loss, 79-70, for the Delta State University Statesmen at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday night. 

How It Happened

• The Statesmen went five of their first eight from the field to open the game including three 3-pointers, two from Devin Schmidt and one from LaQuavius Cotton. DSU held the slight edge, 13-12, at the 16:25 mark.
• Delta State extended its lead, 23-16, by capitalizing on three consecutive trips down the court with jumpers from PJ Davis and Schmidt with 10:07 on the clock in the first half.
• DSU closed out the final 5:30 of the half on a 10-5 run but trailed 35-34 to go into the locker room.
• The Bulldogs built on their lead to open second-half action, sparking a 14-1 run in 4:02 to lead 49-35.
• Delta State took advantage of UU turnovers midway through the second half by compiling an 8-0 run on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field. Union still had the score tilted in its favor 55-49 with 10:27 remaining in the contest.
• The Green-and-White cut the lead to as few as six but could not overcome the deficit, falling to Union 79-70.
• As a team, Delta State shot 48.0 percent (24-for-50) from the field to Union's 43.6 percent. From downtown, DSU shot 4-for-11 for 36.4 percent, also better than UU's 31.8 percent.
• Four Statesmen scored in double figures, led by Schmidt with 24 points, followed by Alister Chisholm with 15. Davis added 12 points with Cotton chipping in 10.
   

Beyond the Numbers

• Sophomore guard Schmidt now has fifteen 15-plus point games this season.
• Cleveland native PJ Davis put up his fourth double-double performance scoring 12 points and bringing down 13 rebounds. The freshman forward now has eight double-figure performances.
• After missing the last two games due to injury, senior Alister Chisholm put up double figures, 15 points on 6-for-6 from the field.
• Delta State has not lost to Union at Walter Sillers since Jan. 20, 1975.
   

Who's Next

• Delta State will continue its home stand at Walter Sillers Coliseum against Christian Brothers on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 4:00 p.m. Philip Tang and Scott Wyant will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 3:45 p.m.