CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University men's basketball team halted the 10-game winning streak of Valdosta State University after capturing the 72-58 victory at Walter Sillers on Saturday evening.
 
Inside the Matchup:
    Score:  Delta State 72 | No. 24 Valdosta State 58
    Records:  Statesmen (15-6, 10-5 GSC) | Blazers (18-4, 13-3 GSC)
    Series: The series is tied 21-21
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

How It Happened:

• Valdosta State was first on the board, but a quick Cedric Harper free throw and Brett Warner jumper and three-pointer got the Statesmen up 6-2 early.
• The Statesmen held the Blazers without a point for nearly five minutes in the opening half.
• With 8:36 left in the first half, Devin Schmidt got on the board with a long range three, and a Harper layup extended the Statesmen lead to 18-12.
• After trailing by as many as 11 in the first half the Blazers cut the deficit to three just before halftime, but the Statesmen still led 27-24 after the opening 20 minutes.
• The Statesmen shot 10-of-28 (36 percent) in the first half, including 5-of-10 from three-point range. DSU was only 2-of-6 from the charity stripe.
• Warner had eight first half points and one rebound, while Schmidt and Harper tallied six apiece. Kilpatrick (three points), PJ Davis and John Cornish (two points apiece) were the other players to score for Delta State. 
• The Blazers went 10-of-24 (42 percent) from the floor and only shot 40 percent (4-for-10) from three-point land. VSU was also 0-for-3 from the free throw line in the first time.
• Beau Justice led all scorers with 13 points for the half. Jeremiah Hill tallied five points while Marquis Simuels, Saadiq Muhammad and Josh Lemons contributed two points for the Blazers.
• Valdosta State opened the second half claiming its second lead of the night on a 8-2 run, but a Cornish hoop and harm tied the score up at 34-34.
• Both offenses were back-and-forth for a long period in the second half, but a Davis dunk gave the Statesmen a 38-37 lead.
• Delta State locked down defensively on Valdosta State for nearly five minutes and did not allow a field goal.
• VSU continued to battle with back-to-back three-pointers from Justice and Lemons to retake the lead, 48-47, with 8:36 to go.
• There were eight lead changes in the final 10 minutes, but the Statesmen took control after going on a 12-4 run late in the final half.
• After a pair of Schmidt, Kilpatrick, Davis and Henry free throws, the Statesmen claimed the 72-58 victory as the clock ran out.
• Delta State shot 26-for-57 for the game (46 percent), including going 15-of-20 from the free throw line, including 13-of-14 in the second half. DSU went 5-of-13 beyond the arc.
• The Blazers were 22-of-62 (36 percent) from the field and 7-of-26 (27 percent) from beyond the arc and made just 7-of-18 from the charity stripe.
• Davis tallied 17 points, four rebounds and one assist to lead the way for DSU. Three other players attributed scoring in double-digits including Kilpatrick (16 points), Harper (14 points) and Schmidt (10 points). Warner finished with eight points and three rebounds. 
• Justice led the Blazers with 22 points, while Muhammad chipped in 11 points and 9 rebounds. 

Notables:          

• Harper set a new career-high with 15 rebounds.

 
Who's Next:

• The Statesmen continue the five-game home stand at Walter Sillers over the next few days. DSU is scheduled to face in-state rival Mississippi College on Monday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m.