PENSACOLA, Florida – Five Statesmen scored in double-figures to hoist Delta State University over West Florida, 69-64, on Saturday afternoon at the UWF Field House.


Inside the Matchup

• Score:  Statesmen 69, Argos 64
• Records: Delta State (9-3, 4-2 GSC) | West Florida (3-6, 2-4 GSC)
• Series: DSU leads series 12-5
• Location: UWF Field House | Pensacola, Fla. | 4 p.m.
   
  How It Happened
• Devin Schmidt jump-started Delta State's offense with a 3-pointer just 27 seconds into the game, the first of five before the first media timeout.
• Four DSU starters combined to go 5-for-6 from beyond the arc to take a 15-8 lead into the huddle at the under-16 media timeout, two from Schmidt and one each from Jack Madgen, Terry Morris, and Zelvin Smith.
• The Statesmen held the advantage until West Florida earned its first lead of the night, 21-19, with 7:25 to go in the first half.
• UWF's lead was short-lived, as a pair of Declan Harrick free throws put the Green-and-White back up 23-21. DSU extended the score to 29-21 at the 3:42 mark, reeling off a 10-0 run.
• Delta State took a 35-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
• DSU's lead ranged from seven to 11 to start the second half, but PJ Davis and Harrick's layups pushed the score to 47-33 with 13:22 to go.
• West Florida slowly started chipping away at the deficit, reaching within two points, 57-55, with 2:44 left on the game clock.
• The Statesmen went on a 6-0 run down the home stretch to push the DSU lead to 63-55 at the 1:34 mark.
• Although the Argos cut the lead to three in the final seconds, Delta State held on to win 69-64.
  
  Notables
• Schmidt produced a double-double, his first of the season, and narrowly missed a triple-double after recording 18 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. The 6-foot-4 junior now has 1,393 career points, passing Kevie Dixon (1988-91) with 1,386 to rank sixth on the all-time scoring list. Schmidt's 11 assists pushed him over the 300-career assists mark. He now has 302.
• Madgen continues his climb to 1,000 career points. The senior guard needs 14 points, as he has 986 in his fourth year with the Green-and-White.
• Head Coach Jim Boone needs one win to reach 400 career wins at the Division II level and nine to eclipse 500 career victories.
• Delta State is now 3-0 on the season following a loss.
   

Game Changer

• The Statesmen outshot the Argos from the charity stripe. DSU shot 84.2 percent (16-of-19), while UWF shot 42.1 percent (8-of-19).

 
Who's Next

• Delta State returns home after the Christmas break, as the Statesmen welcome North Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Walter Sillers Coliseum.