CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State men's basketball will face Eckerd College and Florida Southern at the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine States Conference Challenge in Lakeland, Fla., to open the 2018-19 season. 

The Statesmen will take on Eckerd College on Fri., Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. (CT) and face host Florida Southern at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Sat., Nov. 10. 

 

STATESMEN GAME DAY INFO
Date	Nov. 9 vs. Eckerd | 12 p.m. CT | Nov. 10 at Fla. Southern | 6:30 p.m. CT
Tip-Off Location/Time	Feb. 27: Paul D. Walker Arena - 7 P.M.
Series History/Last Meeting	DSU leads EC series 5-1 - 11.10.18 | DSU L, 61-55  Fla. So. leads series 3-2 = 11.11.19 | DSU L, 75-67Vi
Video/Live Stats	Nov.  9-10 vs. Eckerd: Watch | Live Stats
Game Notes	GSC/SSC Challenge Game Notes

 

ABOUT DELTA STATE:

• STATESMEN BOAST SOLID NUCLEUS IN 2018-19: Delta State has a solid nucleus of returnees that includes six senior returnees and one senior transfer. Returning seniors include Brett Warner, Cedric Harper, Armon Benford, Cornelius McIntosh, Bien Harbin, and Cliff Fernandez while Rasheide Bell is a senior transfer from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Warner, who was named to Preseason All-Gulf South Conference team and was an All-GSC selection a year ago, was DSU's second-leading scorer at 16.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Harper returns after missing last season due to an injury, averaged 7.4 point and 5.6 rebounds in 2017-18. Benford averaged 7.7 points, 6.1 boards and 4.8 assists per game while starting all 31 games.  McIntosh drew 10 starts in 31 games, scoring 4.1 points per contest while Fernandez was a late addition to the team in 2017-18, seeing limited action after finishing his DSU football career. Bell played 31 games scoring 11.1 points per game, shooting 39 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-point range for KWC. The Evansville, Ind., native also grabbed 4.1 boards and had dished out 3.6 assists per game. Also returning is sharpshooting sophomore Matthew Wilson and junior forward Cameron Burkett. Wilson found his wings late in his freshman campaign as a key part of the Statesmen's run to the GSC Tournament Finals. Wilson played in 31 games with 10 starts averaging 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds along with making 33-of-94 3-pointers (34.7 percent). Burkett played in 28 games with five starts averaging 2.9 points and two rebounds per outing.
   
• DSU IN THE GSC/SSC CHALLENGE: The GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge heads Lakeland, Fla., for the second time since its inception in 2013-14. Delta State is 6-4 all-time in the series with a 4-1 mark against the Tritons and a 2-3 record against Florida Southern. 
   
• PRESEASON All-GSC NOTES: The Statesmen are picked third in the GSC Preseason Poll. No. 11 Valdosta State received 11 first-place votes as the top pick followed by No. 12 and defending GSC Tournament Champion West Florida and DSU.  Christian Brothers is fourth while Lee, Montevallo, Alabama Huntsville, West Alabama, West Georgia and Union round out the top 10. Brett Warner was named to the Preseason All-GSC squad. The Collierville, Tenn., native is the Statesmen's leading returning scorer averaging 16.1 ppg., 3.1 rpg., and 2.3 assists. 
   
• STATESMEN, TRITON MEETING FOR THE 7th time: Delta State and Eckerd meet for the seventh time on the hardwood with the Statesmen holding a 5-1 record in the series. Eckerd outscored Delta State 40-23 in the second half en route a 61-55 victory over the Statesmen in last year's GSC/SSC Challenge in Cleveland, Miss. (11.10.18). Warner led DSU with 14 points, and Armon Benford chipped in 10 points. Delta State had won the first five games of the series all-time series before the EC win.ω
   
• STATESMEN, MOCS MEETING FOR THE 9th time: The Green-and-White and Florida Southern will meet for the ninth time, with FSC holding the 5-3 series edge. DSU lost to FSC at last year's GSC/SSC Classic, falling 75-67 victory in Cleveland, Miss. (11.11.18). 
   
• WARNER CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Brett Warner is 6th in career three-pointers made (142), needing two 3-pointers to pass Larry Walker (1997-99) for 5th all-time. The senior sharpshooter is also 5th in career 3-point field goals attempted (405) and is three attempts from moving past Brad Longino (407/1990-93) into fourth.
   
• STATESMEN IN SEASON OPENERS: The Statesmen are 4-2 under Coach Jim Boone and own a 48-35 overall record in season openers since 1927-28.
   
• EXHIBITION SLATE: The Statesmen posted a 1-1 mark in their two exhibition contests leading up to opening weekend. Southeastern Louisiana University used a late 5-0 run to claim a 68-63 win over the Delta State University men's basketball team on Tues., Oct. 30 at the University Center. in Hammond, La. Mathew Wilson led the Statesmen with 23 points, making 9-of-19 shots from the floor that included four 3-pointers. 
• Brett Warner scored 21 points and Justin Slocumhad 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Delta State University to a 70-67 exhibition win over Mississippi Valley State on Sat., Nov. 3, 2108. Matthew Wilson had eight points followed by Armon Benford, Cliff Fernandez and Cedric Harper added six points. Benford had a game-high 16 rebounds and eight assists.