CLEVELAND, Miss - The Delta State University men's basketball team is set to host Christian Brothers and Union as they open Gulf South Conference play. The Statesmen welcome CBU to Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and host Union on Saturday at 4 p.m.
| STATESMEN GAME DAY INFO |
|
| Date |
Nov. 30: DSU vs. Christian Brothers
Dec. 2: DSU vs. Union (Tenn.) |
| Tip-Off Location/Time |
Nov. 30: Walter Sillers Coliseum - 7:30 P.M.
Dec. 2: Walter Sillers Coliseum - 4 P.M. |
| Series History/Last Meeting |
- CBU: DSU leads series 39-13
- 3.11.2017 | W, 80-67
- Union: DSU leads 39-13
- 2.16.2017 | W, 85-75 |
| Audio/Video |
Nov. 30: Listen & Watch Here
Dec. 2: Listen & Watch Here |
| Live Stats |
Nov. 30: Follow Here
Dec. 2: Follow Here |
| Game Notes |
Delta State vs. CBU/Union |
TIP-OFF NEWS AND NOTES:
- STATESMEN OWNERS OF LAST FIVE: Delta State has won the last five matchups against the Christian Brothers in the past two seasons, including posting a 3-0 mark last season against the Bucs. The Statesmen and Bucs were separated by just three points in the regular season, with Delta State notching a 65-64 win on a Cedric Harper dunk in game one, and escaping game two with a 69-67 victory at Walter Sillers. The Statesmen then defeated the Bucs 80-67 in the NCAA South Region Tournament.
ABOUT DELTA STATE:
- BRETT WARNER PACES STATESMEN OFFENSE: Brett Warner leads the charge for the Statesmen offense through the first six games of the season. The Collierville, Tenn. native is averaging 14.2 points in 32.3 minutes per game for the Green-and-White. Warner is shooting 39.4 percent from three-point territory (13-of-33), and is adding 1.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per contest. He is also shooting 80 percent from the free throw line (12-of-15), and is shooting 44.8 percent from the floor (30-of-67).
- BENFORD DOING IT ALL: Junior transfer Armon Benford has done a little bit of everything for the Statesmen so far this season. The Chicago, Ill. native and South Suburban CC product. Benford is averaging 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 28.2 minutes per night.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN BROTHERS:
- CBU UNBLEMISHED THROUGH FIVE GAMES: The Bucs have won their first five games of the year, collecting a pair of wins over Central State (Ohio) and grabbing wins over Lane (Tenn.), Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) and Harding (Ark.).
- LARKIN POURING IT ON TO START THE SEASON: Senior guard Jeff Larkin has been on a torrid stretch to start the year. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has only played in a pair of games to start the season, but that hasn't stopped him from averaging 29.5 points between those two contests. Larkin is also adding 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 38.5 minutes per contest between the two games.
- LARAVIE, DIEBALL DOING THEIR PART: Sophomore Joe Laravie, a Kettering, Ohio native, is averaging 17.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest to start the season for Christian Brothers. Laravie has scored at least 16 points in each game this season, including 21 points against Lane. Junior Adam Dieball, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, has also been in double-figures every game for CBU.
ABOUT UNION (TENN.)
- CHARLIE WILSON LEADS THE BULLDOGS: Led by Charlie Wilson, a Pensacola, Fla. native, Union is out to a 4-2 start on the season. The senior forward has averaged 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in four games for the Bulldogs while shooting 75.9 percent from the floor. Wilson leads four players in double-figures for head coach David Niven and company.
- VELASQUEZ, BOYKIN LIGHTS OUT TO OPEN THE YEAR: Nick Velasquez and Tyree Boykin have been lights out from three-point territory in helping spread the floor for Union. Velasquez, a senior from Mililani, Hawaii, has gone 25-of-49 from three, good for 51 percent from deep for the Bulldogs. He is second on the team to Tyree Boykin, a freshman guard from Clarksville, Tenn., who has gone 14-of-25 (56 percent) from downtown.
- UNION TOPS IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE DEFENSE: The Bulldogs are tops in the league through their first six games in field goal percentage, holding their opponents to just 39 percent shooting from the field.
UP NEXT:
Delta State will continue non-conference action, as they play Arkansas-Monticello on Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. at Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Statesmen then host Bethel (Tenn.) on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
