Elisabetta Zengaro
69
Union (TN) UU 9-1, 3-1 GSC
71
Winner Delta State University DSU 8-2, 3-1 GSC
Union (TN) UU
9-1, 3-1 GSC
69
Final
71
Delta State University DSU
8-2, 3-1 GSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Union (TN) UU 28 41 69
Delta State University DSU 35 36 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Caroline George

Statesmen Edge No. 24 Union in 71-69 Thriller

CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Delta State University men's basketball knocked off No. 24 and formerly unbeaten Union University in a 71-69 thriller on Sunday afternoon.

Inside the Matchup
  • Score:  Statesmen 71, No. 24 Bulldogs 69
  • Records: Delta State (8-2, 3-1 GSC) | Union (9-1, 3-1 GSC)
  • Series: DSU leads series 38-12
  • Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss. | 4 p.m.
     
    How It Happened
  • Terry Morris ignited the Delta State offense with a 3-pointer to open scoring, giving DSU an early 3-0 advantage just 22 seconds into the ballgame.
  • The Statesmen defense prohibited Union from getting on the scoreboard until the 15:24 mark when UU made two free throws.
  • Although DSU maintained the lead, the Bulldogs were right on the heels of the Statesmen the whole first half, keeping the advantage within single digits.
  • Delta State went into the locker room with a 35-28 lead.
  • The deficit stayed between three and eight points in Delta State's favor until a James Kilpatrick layup created a double-digit scoring margin, 57-47, with 7:01 to play in the contest.
  • PJ Davis' free throw at the 6:22 mark gave the Green-and-White their largest lead of the night, 60-47.
  • Union quickly started clawing back, executing on DSU miscues. Two consecutive Statesmen turnovers allowed the Bulldogs to come within one, 67-66, with 1:22 to play.
  • UU was forced to foul, sending Delta State to the line three times in the final 20 seconds. Devin Schmidt, Jack Madgen and Kilpatrick combined to go 3-for-6 from the line; enough to pick up the 71-69 win over formerly unbeaten Union.

    Notables
  • Delta State's defense held a Union team that entered the contest averaging 80.1 points per game and shooting 43.4 percent from the field to 69 points and 38.6 percent shooting.
  • Three Statesmen produced double-figure performances. Led by Schmidt's 24 points, Davis added 12 points, while Kilpatrick chipped in 11 and a game-high eight rebounds.
  • Schmidt continues his climb toowards the top spot as the leading scorer in Delta State history. The junior guard now has 1,359 career points, ranking seventh, and needs 27 points to claim the next spot. He has now scored in double-figures in 23 consecutive games, dating back to last season.
  • Jack Madgen is slowly climbing his way to the 1,000-point. The senior guard needs 32 points, as he holds 968 career points.
  • Head Coach Jim Boone moved closer to a pair of career milestones. The 30-year veteran is two wins away from topping 400 wins at the NCAA Division II level and 10 from eclipsing 500 career victories. The Winfield, W.V., native could reach his 400th Division II win with a pair of victories on DSU's road swing with Valdosta and West Florida to close out 2015.
Game Changer
  • The Statesmen outshot the Bulldogs 48.1 percent (25-of-52) to 38.6 percent (22-of-57).
 
Who's Next
  • Delta State hits the road for the final contests of 2015. DSU will face Valdosta State on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. and West Florida on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.
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