LIVINGSTON, Alabama – Delta State University men's basketball started the regular season on a high note, defeating the Tritons of Eckerd College 87-77 in day one of the GSC/SSC Showdown.

Inside the Matchup

• Score:  Statesmen 87, Tritons 77
• Matchup: DSU (1-0) | Eckerd (0-1)
• Series: Delta State leads series 4-0
• Location: Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala. | 12 p.m. | GSC/SSC Showdown

How It Happened

• Delta State was the first team on the scoreboard courtesy of a pair of Jack Madgen free throws, giving the Statesmen 2-0 lead at the 19:20 mark and never relinquished the lead.
• Over a five-minute span, DSU went on a 12-5 run to extend its lead to 14, 23-9. The run was highlighted by a pair of layups and a 3-pointer from Devin Schmidt in three consecutive trips down the court.
• The Tritons quickly responded with an 8-0 run by taking advantage of a 3:30 scoring drought down the first-half stretch to cut the lead to two, 25-23.
• Delta State executed at the charity stripe with eight made freebees from Madgen, Schmidt and sophomores PJ Davis and John Cornish to close out the frame. The Statesmen went into the locker with the 38-31 advantage at halftime.
• The two squads traded baskets to open second-half play, but DSU built on its lead with a Declan Harrick layup, notching the score at 55-40 in favor of the Statesmen with 13:34 to go in the contest.
• Zelvin Smth Jr.'s bucket from downtown with 5:19 on the clock widened the scoring margin to 18, DSU's largest lead at 74-56.
• Eckerd came within 10 points of Delta State, but the Statesmen remained on top, 87-77, until the final buzzer.

 
Notables

• Three Statesmen put up double-figures in Schmidt, Madgen, and Smith. Schmidt (28) and Madgen (21) each topped 20-plus points.
• With the win over EC, Head Coach Jim Boone needs 17 wins to top 500 career victories.
• Schmidt and Madgen are each closing in on career milestones. Schmidt, a junior guard, needs 80 points to break into the top-10 all time scoring list and 42 assists to eclipse 300 dishes. He also moves into sixth in the DSU record book for 3-pointers attempted, 292, passing Joe McCray with 285 (2008-10). Madgen, a 6-foot-5 guard, needs 112 points to join the 1,000-point club at Delta State.

Game Changer

• Delta State shot 86.5 percent (32-of-37) from the free throw line.

 
Who's Next

• The Statesmen will wrap up the GSC/SSC Showdown by taking on the defending Division II National Champions, Florida Southern, on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12 p.m.