GAME NOTES: Mississippi College @ Delta State (2.23.19)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University men's basketball team looks to solidify its Gulf South Conference Tournament seeding this week, as the Statesmen (15-10, 11-7 GSC) host in-state rival Mississippi College (6-16, 3-14 GSC) on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network and streamed online at GoStatesmen.com. Philip Tang will have the call.     

Saturday's Delta State versus Mississippi College clash is the 97th meeting between the schools on the hardwood. The Statesmen have won five in a row and lead the all-time series standings 58-37-1, including a 34-16 record against the Choctaws at Walter Sillers Coliseum. DSU defeated MC, 74-65, at A.E. Wood Coliseum on Dec. 15, 2018 in the first meeting of the year. The Statesmen also claimed a 79-69 win over the Choctaws in their last visit to Cleveland on Feb. 22, 2018.

Coach Jim Boone and his staff will honor Delta State's eight seniors in a special ceremony following Saturday's game with Mississippi College. The 2018-2019 senior class includes Rasheide Bell, Armon Benford, Cameron Burkett, Cliff Fernandez, Cedric Harper, Mitch Keller and Brett Warner.             

Delta State wraps up the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 28 at the University of Montevallo (9-18, 5-12 GSC). Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Trustmark Arena. The Statesmen defeated the Falcons, 77-68, on Dec. 1, 2018 in the first meeting this season between the two teams. DSU owns a commanding 15-2 edge in the all-time series.

INSIDE THE PAINT: @DELTASTATEMBB NEWS & NOTES

• Senior guard Brett Warner, who passed Alvin Ratliff (1969-1971/1,308) for ninth on the school's career scoring list last week, is rapidly approaching former teammate P.J. Davis (2014-2018/1,350) for eighth.  The Collierville, Tenn., native has scored 1,342 points in his career and needs nine points to pass Davis. He tied another former teammate, Jack Madgen (2-12-2016), for third on the career 3-pointers made (185) list and ranks second in attempts (535). He is currently averaging 14.3 ppg, which ranks sixth in the GSC.
       
• A founding principle of coach Jim Boone's style of play is tenacious, grinding defense. As the Statesmen face the Choctaws at Sillers Coliseum on Saturday, Delta State ranks third in the league in field goal percentage defense (42.6%) and ranks No. 33 nationally in NCAA DII in scoring defense (67.3).
   
• Coach Jim Boone and the Statesmen are one of eight programs locked into spots for the upcoming Gulf South Conference Tournament. While seeding is yet to be determined, the field includes West Alabama, Valdosta State, Christian Brothers, Alabama Huntsville, Union, DSU, West Georgia and Lee.
   
• Four Statesmen are averaging in double figures, as Delta State hosts Mississippi College this week. Brett Warner (14.1 ppg) ranks ninth in the GSC in points per game and leads the team in scoring followed by Rasheide Bell (12.8 ppg), Justin Slocum (10.4), and Matthew Wilson (10.2 ppg).
      
• Delta State enters this week's match-up versus the Choctaws ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 67.3 points per game.
   
• Junior forward Justin Slocum (7.0 rpg) and senior guard Armon Benford (6.8 rbg) both rank in the top 10 in the GSC in rebounding. Slocum is currently sixth while Benford is seventh.
   
• Senior forward Cedric Harper scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Statesmen past Auburn Montgomery, 71-62, at Sillers Coliseum. The Tallahassee, Fla., native currently leads the GSC in FG percentage (65.0%) and blocks (35) while averaging 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
      
• Justin Slocum has continued his consistent play at the forward spot for Coach Boone and the Statesmen. The junior from Macon, Ga., is averaging 10.4 points, 7.0rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He currently ranks sixth in the GSC in rebounding and second in FG percentage (54.1%).
   
• Matthew Wilson is averaging 10.2 points per game. He is second in the GSC in 3-point FG percentage (42.7) and 11th in 3-pointers per game (2.1).
   
• Delta State is averaging 35.2 rebounds per game, including 11.4 offensive boards.