CLEVELAND, Miss. – Devin Schmidt's historic 31-point performance powered the Delta State University (14-11, 11-8 GSC) men's basketball team past the University of North Alabama (11-14, 8-11 GSC) 77-67 in Gulf South Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. For Schmidt, the 6-foot-4 guard joined the 1,000 points club with his effort against the Lions. The Seveirville, Tenn., native climbed to 13^th on the career-scoring list with 1,017 points.

Inside the Matchup

• Score: Delta State 77, North Alabama 67 (Final)
• Records: Delta State (14-11, 11-8 GSC); North Alabama (11-14, 8-11 GSC)
• Series: This marked the 83rd meeting between the Statesmen and Lions, with UNA holding a 42-41 edge in the standings
• Location: Lloyd Clark Court at Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Mississippi
• Short Story: Delta State University made it three in a row in Gulf South Conference action, as the Statesmen defeated the University of North Alabama 77-67 on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Devin Schmidt's 31-point performance powered the Statesmen and put the high scoring sophomore into Delta State's 1,000 Point Club. LaQuavious Cotton added 19 points while Alister Chisholm finished with 11 for DSU.

How It Happened

• Delta State used a first half surge and held on to it in the second to come away with a 77-67 victory over the University of North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Both teams put three players in double figures, as Schmidt led all scorers with 31 points.
• The Statesmen shot 39.1 percent for the game, after making 25-of-64 shots from the floor. DSU was 11-of-22 from 3-point land and 16-of-20 from the line. The Lions connected on 39.7 percent from the floor on 25-of-63 attempts. UNA was 5-of-17 from 3-point range and 12-of-21 from the stripe. 
• UNA outscored DSU 43-42 in the second half, as the Statesmen struggled offensively in final frame after making just 11-of-28 from the field.
• Second Half Streaks: After UNA cut the DSU lead to seven points with 2:31 to play, the Statesmen closed out the game on a 14-11 run.
• Devin Schmidt scored 31 points and dished out six assists to lead the Statesmen. The sophomore guard was 11-of-21 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range, on the night.
• LaQuavious Cotton dropped in 19 points and cleared six rebounds versus the Lions. The Cleveland, Miss., native was 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
• Zelvin Smith, Jr. and P.J. Davis pulled down nine and seven rebounds respectively to lead DSU on the glass. The Statesmen out-rebounded the Lions 44-42 on the night.
• UNA was led by Nathan Spehr's 17 points.
• Calvin Dade had 16 points and 15 rebounds while Jere Vucica finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• Halftime Score: Delta State 35, North Alabama 24.
• Halftime Streaks: DSU finished the half on a 19-7 run and outscored UNA 20-7 off turnovers.
• The Statesmen shot 38.9 percent (14-of-36) from the floor and were 6-of-11 from 3-point range. The Lions connected on 36 percent (9-of-25) and 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
• Devin Schmidt led all scorers with 17 points at the break and Laquavious Cotton added 12 points for the Statesmen.
• UNA was led by Calvin Dade's seven points at the break.  

 
Beyond the Numbers

• Devin Schmidt has scored 262 points in DSU's last 10 games. The sophomore has scored 1,017 points in his two-year career and passed Jeremy Richardson (1,001) and Milton Griffin (1,011) for on the career-scoring list with his performance Saturday versus UNA.
• Head coach Jim Boone earned his 51st win in his three-year tenure at the command of Statesmen basketball.
• Delta State secured a spot in the Gulf South Conference Tournament with the win and paired with losses by Shorter and West Georgia, keeps DSU in the hunt to host.
   

Who's Next

• The Statesmen hit the road to Rome, Ga., for a Thursday, Feb. 19 showdown with the Shorter University Hawks. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Winthrope-King Center. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network.