GAME NOTES: Delta State (19-11) vs. Florida Southern (24-7)
Complete weekly release in PDF format

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The champions from the Gulf South Conference and Sunshine State Conference will meet in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament, as the Statesmen (19-11, No. 7 seed) of Delta State University face the Mocs (24-7, No. 2 seed) of Florida Southern College in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 16 at Rick Case Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM). Matt Jones will have the call. Links to the broadcast and live stats are available online at GoStatesmen.com.     

Delta State is making its 17th appearance and third under head coach Jim Boone in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. The Statesmen are 16-15 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 3-2 mark under coach Boone. The Wingfield, W.Va., native led the Statesmen to the "Sweet 16" in 2013-14 after defeating Barry (82-77) and Saint Leo (70-61) but falling to Tuskegee (80-59) in the South Region title game in Lakeland, Fla. In 2016-17, Delta State earned a South Regional at-large bid to Huntsville, Ala., going 1-1 with a thrilling 80-67 win over Christian Brothers and an 88-61 loss to Rollins. A complete breakdown of DSU's NCAA postseason history is available on page four of the PDF notes package.

The South Region field is one of the deepest in the nation and features the top-seed and tournament host Nova Southeastern. The No. 3 nationally-ranked Sharks are 26-3 on the year and will face Miles College (21-8/No. 8) in the quarterfinals. Valosta State (24-6/No. 4), which is currently No. 18 in the NABC Top 25, squares off against GSC rival West Alabama (22-7/No. 5). Lynn (23-6/No. 3) faces Alabama Huntsville (24-7/No. 6) to round out the pairings for the opening round. The complete bracket is on page three.

Delta State played all but Nova Southeastern and Lynn during the regular season. The Statesmen are a combined 102-83 all-time against the South Region field, including a 4-6 mark this year.

The Statesmen marched to their seventh Gulf South Conference championship last week after defeating Christian Brothers (61-58), Valdosta State (70-69) and Alabama Huntsville (64-60).  Sophomore guard Matthew Wilson was named the GSC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Cedric Harper and Brett Warner joined him on the All-Tournament Team.

Delta State enters the NCAA South Region Tournament ranked No. 17 in NCAA DII in scoring defense, allowing 66.0 points per game. The Statesmen held three of the GSC's top offenses in check en route to winning their seventh league championship, including Alabama Huntsville's lowest point total since November - 60 points.

INSIDE THE PAINT: @DELTASTATEMBB NEWS & NOTES

• Coach Jim Boone and the Statesmen are making their third appearance in the NCAA South Region  Tournament since the Wingfield, W.V., native took over the program in time for the 2012-2013 season. Boone is 3-2 in the NCAA Tournament at Delta State, but owns an impressive NCAA postseason resume that includes two Final Four appearances while at California (Pa.).
   
• The Statesmen (No. 5) marched to their seventh Gulf South Conference championship last week after defeating Christian Brothers (61-58), Valdosta State (70-69) and Alabama Huntsville (64-60).  Sophomore guard Matthew Wilson was named the GSC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Cedric Harper and Brett Warner joined him on the All-Tournament Team.
     
• Brett Warner has put together a phenomenal senior campaign, as the guard is averaging 14.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for the Statesmen. Warner ranks in DSU's career top 10 in points (7th), games played (5th), 3-pointers made & attempted (2nd), and assists (10th).
      
• Rasheide Bell, a senior guard from Evansville, Ind., enters the postseason averaging 12.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Bell scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in DSU's 70-69 win over Valdosta State in the GSC Tournament semifinals.
   
• Senior guard Armon Benford cracked the career assists list at Delta State this past week at the GSC Tournament. The Chicago, Ill., native has 258 assists and ranks 11th in DSU's storied history. In the 64-60 win over UAH in the GSC championship game, Benford scored 10 points, grabbed seven boards and handed out six assists, but it was his 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the waning moments of the game that helped seal the win for Delta State.
   
• Junior forward Justin Slocum enters this weekend's NCAA South Region Tournament averaging 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He ranks 10th in the GSC in rebounding.
   
• Sophomore guard Matthew Wilson shined at the GSC Tournament after averaging 17.4 points per game for the Statesmen, including a career-high 28 versus Valdosta State in the semifinals. He also had 16 points and four rebounds in the 64-60 win over UAH in the title game. He is averaging 11.3 points per game, including 2.4 made 3-pointers per game.
     
• Senior center Cedric Harper saved one of his best games for the GSC championship, as the Tallahassee, Fla., native scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked four shots, including a crucial UAH attempt in the final seconds. The GSC's leader in blocked shots (47) is averaging 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game coming into the NCAA South Region Tournament.