CLEVELAND, Miss. – Senior forward P.J. Davis scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Delta State University men's basketball team to a 77-50 victory over Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Ravion Henry (16), Brett Warner (15) and Cameron Burkett (11) joined Davis in double figures.

THE BASICS:

• Score: Delta State 77, Cumberland 50
• Records: Statesmen (2-2) | Cumberland (3-4)
• Date: Tues., Nov. 18 | 4 p.m. Tip-off
• Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.
• Series: DSU leads the all-time series 2-0
• Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateMBB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics

 
TURNING POINT:

• With the Statesmen holding a 38-36 edge with 16:08 remaining in the second half, Delta State used an 18-2 run over the next 5:33 to build a 58-42 lead and extinguish the fight from the Phoenix. DSU's run was fueled by five consecutive Cumberland turnovers during that stretch. 

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Delta State shot 47 percent for the game, making 29-of-62 attempts from the floor, including 7-of-24 from beyond the 3-point line.
• After shooting below 60 percent from the free throw line in two of their first three games, the Statesmen connected on 12-of-15 (80 percent), including 11-of-14 in the second half.
• Cumberland shot 44 percent (20-of-45) from the floor, but were 0-of-10 from 3-point range.
• DSU forced a season-best 20 turnovers, scoring 23 of their 77 points off Cumberland's miscues.
• The Statesmen also pulled down 13 offensive rebounds, while outrebounding the Phoenix 33-29 overall.

 
INSIDE THE FLOW:

• The first half was marked by mini-runs for each team, as the Statesmen carried a narrow 33-31 lead into the lockeroom on Matt Wilson's buzzer-beating lay-up.
• Delta State exploded out of the gate in the second half, using two runs to ultimately take command of the game. The Statesmen ended the game on a 16-2 run to make the final margin 27 points.
• Cumberland went ice cold from the field in the second half, including a 1-for-8 stretch over the final 4:53 of the contest. 

 
NOTABLES:

• The Statesmen placed four players in double-figures, led by Davis's 19 points and seven rebounds. The Cleveland, Miss., native, was 8-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
• Henry, who finished with 16 points, was 5-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
• Warner (15) and Burkett (11) made it back-to-back games scoring in double digits for coach Jim Boone.
• Ty Sean Powell led the Phoenix with 10 points and six boards.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Statesmen travel to Owensboro, Ky., for the annual Kentucky Wesleyan University Thanksgiving Classic. Delta State will face Lake Superior State on Friday, Nov. 24 ay 1 p.m. before closing out the weekend against the tournament hosts on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 3 p.m.