CLEVELAND, Miss - The Delta State University men's basketball team is set for the Kentucky Wesleyan Thanksgiving Classic at the Owensboro Sportscenter in Owensboro, Ky. on Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25. The Statesmen will be the home team as they play Lake Superior State on Friday at 1 p.m., and then turn around and play the host Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
| STATESMEN GAME DAY INFO |
|
| Date |
Nov. 24: DSU vs. Lake Superior State
Nov. 25: DSU vs. Kentucky Wesleyan |
| Tip-Off Location/Time |
Nov. 24: Owensboro Sportscenter - 1 P.M.
Nov. 25: Owensboro Sportscenter - 4:15 P.M. |
| Series History/Last Meeting |
- LSSU: DSU leads series 1-0
- 3.11.1941 - DSU W, 53-45
- KWC: KWC leads series 8-2
- 3.18.1998 - KWC W, 76-68 |
| Audio/Video |
Nov. 24: Watch Here
Nov. 25: Watch Here |
| Live Stats |
Nov. 24: Follow Here
Nov. 25: Follow Here |
| Game Notes |
Delta State vs. LSSU/KWC |
TIP-OFF NEWS AND NOTES:
- STATESMEN, LAKERS SET TO MEET FOR JUST SECOND TIME: The Statesmen and the Lake Superior State Lakers are meeting for just the second time in each program's history. The two teams last met on March 11, 1941, as NAIA programs, when both institutions squared off in the NAIA National Tournament. Delta State won that game 53-45 before falling to West Texas St. 54-34 the following day.
- STATESMEN ON TWO GAME WINNING STREAK: Delta State is on a two-game win streak after starting the season 0-2 in the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic. The Statesmen knocked off Central Baptist 72-62 for their first win of the season, and then took down Cumberland (Tenn.) University 77-50 to make it two in a row.
ABOUT DELTA STATE:
- PJ DAVIS LEADS THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK: Senior PJ Davis has been the leading man through the first four games of the season. The Cleveland, Miss. product is averaging 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. Davis has gone for double-figures in the last three games, including a season-high 19 points in a 77-50 victory over Cumberland (Tenn.) University.
- WARNER GO-TO SHARPSHOOTER: After knocking down 37.5% (60-for-160) on his three-point attempts last season to finish second on the team, Brett Warner is pacing the Statesmen early on this season. The Collierville, Tenn. native, is shooting 45.8% (11-for-24) from downtown to open the year, including a 5-for-6 effort in a 72-62 win over Central Baptist at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
- BENFORD DOING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: Junior transfer Armon Benford has been a welcome addition at point guard for DSU. The Chicago, Ill. native and South Suburban CC product is averaging 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 28.3 minutes per night. Benford went for a season-high six assists against Florida Southern and Cumberland, and had a season-high four steals against Cumberland.
ABOUT LAKE SUPERIOR STATE:
- AKAEMJI WILLIAMS CAPTAINING THE LAKERS: Senior guard Akaemji Williams has exploded out of the gate to start the 2017-18 season for head coach Steve Hettinga and his squad. The Pontiac, Michigan native, is averaging 24.8 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Williams has gone for 20 or more points in each of the first four games, including a season-high 29 points in an 83-78 loss to Cedarville. Williams is shooting 55.2% from the floor, 50% from three and 88.6% from the free throw line for the year.
- WILLIAMS TABBED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Lake Superior State's Akaemji Williams was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference North Division Player of the Week Williams averaged 28 points and shot 56.3% from the field. He also pulled down 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals in two non-conference games at the Don Callan Classic this past weekend.
- FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: The Lakers have been rolling offensively to start the year, with Williams leading the charge. LSSU is third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in scoring (82.8 points per game), field goal percentage (49.6%) and free throw percentage (72.9%), and scored a season-high 96 points in a 30-point win over Kentucky Wesleyan to start the season.
ABOUT KENTUCKY WESLEYAN:
- HAROLD "BIRD" CARDWELL DOING IT ALL EARLY: Cardwell leads the attack on the offensive end of the floor for the Panthers, averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game through the team's first five games. The junior guard leads the team in all three categories, and scored 23 points in a season-opening win over Montevallo. He has tallied double-figures in four of the team's first five games.
- HATTON, BELL HELP SHOULDER THE LOAD: Junior guard Brandon Hatton (10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.8 assits) and Rasheide Bell (10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists) join Cardwell in shouldering the load on the offensive end of the floor as the three scorers in double-figures for the Panthers.
- HAPPY OSBORNE STEPS AWAY: Kentucky Wesleyan College head men's basketball head coach Happy Osborne is taking a temporary medical leave from the program immediately due to health concerns. Assistant coach Jason Mays, who spent the last two seasons at Valdosta State, takes the reigns for the Panthers in his absence. Osborne has gone 99-24 in his first five seasons for KWC.
UP NEXT:
Delta State will continue non-conference action against Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 4:15 p.m. at Ownesboro Sportscenter.
