CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University men's basketball team fell to Union University 72-71 in the final seconds on Saturday afternoon at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
 
Inside the Matchup:
 
    Score: Union 72 | Delta State 71
    Records: Bulldogs  (7-4, 2-3 GSC) | Statesmen (7-3, 2-2 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads the all-time series 38-13
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.
 
 
How It Happened:
 

• Delta State opened the game on a 5-0 spurt early in the first half that saw PJ Davis hit two free throws and Brett Warner nail a three.
• After a three-minute scoreless drought from both sides, Union claimed the lead 7-5 at the 13:57 mark on a Charlie Wilson three.
• Late in the first half, the Statesmen went on an 11-0 run and took back the lead, 20-18, on a huge three by John Cornish and a Davis layup.
• Union claimed the 26-24 lead again at the 4:08 mark after a couple of three pointers from Nick Velasquez and a Jarad Scott layup.
• Delta State went on a 4-0 run to end the first half and tied the score 31-31 as both teams went into the locker room.
• Schmidt led all scorers with 13 first half points, shooting 6-for-8 from the free throw line. James Kilpatrick followed with six points, Warner tallied five and Davis had four. Schmidt also led with seven rebounds, and Kilpatrick was second with three.
• Cornish opened the second half scoring with a layup and James Kilpatrick knocked down two free throws to reclaim the lead 35-31 at the start of the second half.
• The Statesmen held the Bulldogs scoreless for over three minutes halfway through the second half.
• Both offenses were back-and-forth for the majority of the second half. Late in the second half, the Bulldogs made a 7-0 run but Kilpatrick hit a free throw to end the streak.
• Schmidt hit a huge three with 12.2 seconds to go in the second half to tie it 71-71, but Union clinched the 72-71 victory after Scott hit one of two free throws.
• The Statesmen finished 23-of-59 (39 percent), while the Bulldogs were 24-of-53 (45 percent). Delta State finished 4-of-17 shooting (24 percent) from long-range, while Union were 11-for-26 (42 percent)
• Schmidt and Kilpatrick finished the game in double figures. Schmidt led the way with 28 points. Kilpatrick had 15 points, followed by Warner (nine). Davis and Cornish each finished with seven apiece. Kilpatrick led with 17 boards, followed by Schmidt with 11.
• Scott led the Bulldogs with 28 points. Ashanti Day finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

 
 
Notables:     
      

• Schmidt and Kilpatrick posted double-doubles and Kilpatrick set a new career high with 17 rebounds.

 
Who's Next:
 

• Delta State travels to Christian Brothers University on Monday, January 2 for a 7 p.m. contest.