CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University men's basketball team got 20 points from PJ Davis for the second consecutive night, and the Statesmen slipped past North Alabama 61-55 for their fourth consecutive win in the final regular season meeting between the two school's as NCAA Division II members on Thursday night at Walter Sillers Coliseum. 

THE BASICS:

    Score: Delta State 61  | North Alabama 55
    Records: DSU (7-7, 5-1 GSC) | UNA (7-6, 2-4 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads the series 47-42
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum
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TURNING POINT:

• With DSU leading 54-50 with 1:27 to go, PJ Davis sunk a three-pointer in front of his own bench to make it 57-50, and Delta State outlasted UNA 61-55 to improve to 5-1 in Gulf South Conference play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
 

• Delta State made 21 of its 49 shot attempts, finishing at 43 percent for the contest. The Statesmen went 6-of-14 from three (43 percent) and 13-of-24 (54 percent) from the free throw line in the win.
• The Lions shot 33 percent (17-of-51) percent from the floor, and went just 8-of-27 (30 percent) from three-point territory. UNA struggled at the line, making just 13 of their 28 free throws.
• North Alabama won the battle on the glass, edging Delta State 40-34 on the boards. UNA pulled down 13 offensive rebounds to just six for DSU. 
• PJ Davis scored 20 points for the second straight game, and Brett Warner added 17 points and six rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting.
• Kendall Stafford scored 17 points to lead the way for North Alabama, and Tavaras Tolliver and Kendarius Smith each had nine points.
• Sharwyn McGee pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for UNA, and Mitch Keller grabbed nine to lead Delta State. 

 INSIDE THE FLOW:
 

• Delta State jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the game's opening five minutes, and continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal in building a 13-point, 19-6 lead with 12:11 left in the first half. 
• North Alabama locked in defensively for the final 7:44 of the first half, as they held Delta State without a field goal and outscored the Statesmen 6-1 in that span to cut the lead down to six points at the half. DSU held a 29-23 advantage at the break
• The Statesmen went without a field goal for 10:42 from the 7:44 mark of the first half to the 16:52 mark of the second half, as North Alabama pulled within three points, 33-30. 
• The Green-and-White responded with a 14-9 run to take their largest lead of the second half, 47-39, with 8:01 left to go in the contest.
• UNA would get it as close as three points again at 52-49, but a 9-6 edge over the final 2:51 secured the win for Delta State.

NOTABLES:
 

• Davis scored 20 points for the third time this season.
• Brett Warner tallied 17 points, marking the 11th time in 14 games that he's scored double-digits. 
• Coach Boone secured his 101st win at DSU, and needs just two to move into third place all-time in DSU history. 
• Delta State led the game for more than 37 minutes for the third consecutive game as well.
• The Statesmen have held their last three opponents to 17 field goals or less.

UP NEXT:

The Statesmen travel to Valdosta, Ga. and Pensacola, Fla. for their next two GSC contests. The Statesmen and Valdosta State square off on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT. Delta State then goes to Pensacola, Fla. to take on West Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT.