CLEVELAND, Miss. – Despite 17 points and 15 rebounds from
Justin Slocum, the Delta State University men's basketball team could not overcome a 13-point halftime deficit, as the University of Alabama in Huntsville claimed a 70-58 victory on Thursday, Jan. 24 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
Brett Warner joined Slocum in double digits with 17 points.
J.J. Kaplan led UAH with a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds. Seth Swalve added 17 points while Sam Orf dropped in 10 points.
THE BASICS:
Score: Delta State 58 | Alabama Huntsville 70
Records: Statesmen 12-6, 8-3 GSC | Chargers 13-5, 6-4 GSC
Series: DSU leads 20-17
Location | Time: Sillers Coliseum | 7:30 PM
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alabama Huntsville raced out to an early 10-4 lead at the 14:45 media timeout.
- The Chargers kept pressing, as Malik Cook-Stroupe's 3-pointer with 12:24 to play in the first half extended UAH's lead to 17-6.
- At the 11:29 media timeout, UAH was shooting 77.8 percent (7-of-9) while the Statesmen were hitting on 18.8 percent (3-of-16).
- Rasheide Bell's jumper with 10:55 left in the first half cut the deficit back to single digits for DSU, 17-8.
- With 7:48 to play in the half, UAH maintained an 11-point lead, 24-13.
- Seth Swalve's third 3-pointer of the night helped the Chargers expand their lead to 14, 27-13, with 6:53 remaining in the half.
- Despite four points from Justin Slocum and Bell, the Statesmen trailed 32-17 at the 3:22 media timeout. UAH's defense continued to throttle the DSU offense.
- Bell's 15-foot jumper with 3:09 to play was the final basket of the first half, as Delta State trailed UAH 32-19.
- UAH connected on 44.8 percent (13-of-29) of their shots in the first half while DSU made just 8-of-29 shots for 27.6 percent. The Chargers were 5-of-15 from 3-point range with the Statesmen making just 1-of-5.
- Swalve's 11 points led UAH and all scorers at the half. JJ Kaplan added 10 for the Chargers.
- Slocum, who also had seven rebounds, and Bell paced the Statesmen with six points apiece.
- UAH used the first 4:05 to extend its lead to 17, 42-25, at the 15:55 media timeout. The 17-point margin was the largest of the game to that point for the Chargers.
- Delta State finally got some offensive rhythm going, as the Statesmen put together a 6-0 run with back-to-back-to-back baskets by Brett Warner, Slocum and Cedric Harper. The run cut the deficit to 12, 46-34, with 13:53 to play in the second half.
- The Statesmen continued the climb back into the game, as Armon Benford's steal led to a Warner layup on the other end to cut the UAH lead to 50-41 with 12:29 to play.
- Despite a 7-4 edge in scoring by the Statesmen, UAH maintained a 51-43 lead at the 7:57 media timeout.
- Sam Orf's 3-pointer with 4:15 to play pushed UAH's lead back to double digits, 63-51.
- Despite consistent effort, the Statesmen could not cut deep enough into the Chargers lead, as UAH ran out the final minutes for the 70-58 victory.
- UAH shot 50 percent (27-of-54) for the game while holding DSU to 38.6 percent (22-of-57).
TURNING POINT
- After Delta State had cut the deficit to seven, 58-51, UAH went on a 7-0 run to stretch the lead back to double digits.
STAT OF THE GAME
- The Chargers out-rebounded DSU 39-27, leading to 10 second chance points for UAH.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- DSU's 13-point deficit at the break marked the second-straight game the Statesmen trailed at halftime by double digits.
- Warner, who scored 17 points, inched closer to Don Cooper (1970-1973/1,279) for 10th on the career scoring list. He is currently 11th place with 1,272 points.
- Slocum collected his fifth double-double of the year and the second-straight, scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
- Kaplan led UAH and all scorers with 23 points. The junior also collected 13 rebounds for the double-double. Swalve finished with 17 points and Orf closed with 10 points.
UP NEXT
- Delta State returns to Walters Sillers Coliseum for Family Fun Day versus Lee University on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 4 PM. All tickets to Saturday's game are $3. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM) starting at 3:45 PM.
