CLEVELAND, Mississippi. – The Delta State University men's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with an 86-71 win over the Shorter University Hawks on Thursday. 
 
Inside the Matchup
 
    Score:  Statesmen 86, Hawks 71
    Records: Delta State (17-9, 12-8 GSC) | Hawks (12-14, 7-13 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads series 5-3
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Mississippi | 7:30 p.m.
    
    How It Happened

• Only 23 seconds into the game, Devin Schmidt got the Statesmen offense going with a 3-pointer at the 19:37 mark, giving DSU the early 3-0 edge.
• The Statesmen used a 12-5 run to boost momentum, leading 19-8 with 13:56 to go in the first half.
• With 4:40 remaining, Delta State gained its largest lead, 21 points, off two free throws from PJ Davis to lead 41-20. 
• The Statesmen went into halftime with a 50-35 advantage. DSU led for a total 19:37 in the first half.
• Second-half action started out much like the first. Davis got the offense going with a slam dunk at the 19:49 mark, extending DSU's lead to 52-37.
• The Hawks started to gain momentum, but a 3-pointer by Schmidt with 14:30 on the clock silenced the Hawk's threat.  
• Both teams traded baskets, but Delta State was able to maintain an average lead of at least 13 points for the majority of the second half.
• A 10-3 run increased DSU's lead to 76-57 with 3:33 remaining in the contest.
• The Hawks attempted a comeback, but a technical foul proved costly for the Hawks.The Statesmen matched their largest lead of 21 off a free throw by Jack Madgen with 3:24 left in the game, making the score 81-60.   
• A 3-pointer by John Cornish put the Statesmen up 86-64 with two minutes remaining. Althoug Shorter responded with a 7-0 run, the comeback effort was too little too late, and Delta State won 86-71.

 
    Notables

• Three Statesmen scored in double digits. Schmidt led all scores with 27 points, followed by James Kilpatrick and Davis with 11 each. Davis added 12 rebounds to tally his third double-double of the year.
• The score was tied only once during the game—the 23 seconds before Delta State sunk its first basket of the game, and the Statesmen never lost the lead.
• A 6-foot-4 junior, Schmidt needs 40 points to become Delta State's all-time leading scorer. The Sevierville, Tenn., native has 1,760 career points and has three guaranteed games left in the season.
• Head Coach Jim Boone is one win away from reaching 500 career victories. 
• The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Statesmen.    

Who's Next
The Statesmen will host the Lee University Flames on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. Three seniors, Jack Madgen, Declan Harrick and Zelvin Smith, will be honored for Senior Day following the completion of the game.