GAME NOTES
CLEVELAND, MISS: After two tough losses on the road last week, the Statesmen return home for two GSC matchups. The Staetsmen fell by one point to West Florida 68-67 at the buzzer last week in Pensacola. Then last Saturday the Statesmen fell 103-80 to Valdosta State. DSU returns home to take on Union University who is 10-6 overall and 4-4 in conference play and is a half game up on DSU in the GSC standings. CBU is 6-10 overall and 2-6 in GSC play. Tipoff against Union is set for 7:30 PM. on Thursday night. Tipoff against CBU on Saturday is at 4 PM. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM) and worldwide at GoStatesmen.com.
INSIDE THE UNION SERIES: Thursday's matchup is the 56th all-time between the Statesmen and Bulldogs, with Delta State owning a 41-14 all time lead in the series. Union is 6th in the GSC in points per game at 74.9 while giving up 69.5 points on the defensive end. The Bulldogs shoot the ball at a 75.3% clip from the free throw line which is third best in the GSC. Tyree Boykin leads the Bulldogs at 17.8 ppg which is the third best in the conference. Boykin is also the best free throw shotter in the GSC at 88% while he also makes the three point shot at 32.1%. Meanwhile Lidonta Hicks Gentry is their leading rebounder at 7.6 rebounds per game.
INSIDE THE CBU SERIES: Saturday's matchup is the 102nd meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Bucs with DSU having a 59-42 lead in the series. The Statesmen have played more games agaisnt CBU than any other current GSC opponent. CBU is the lowest scoring team in the conference at 62.1 ppg but only allow 66.9 points a game which is fourth best in the conference. The Bucs also only pull down 33.1 rebounds per game but opponents only average 31.5 which is second best in the GSC. Nick Deifel averages 7.7 rebounds for the Bucs.
COACH NIENABER FACING HIS FORMER TEAM: For the first time since 1999, Head Coach Mike Nienaber will be coaching a DSU-CBU game where he isn't the head coach. He went 351-224 in 20 season as the head coach of CBU. It wil be the first time he will face a former team in GSC play.
STREET & BROOKS FUELING STATESMEN OFFENSE: Delta State enters Thursday's game with the Argos averaging 71.4 points per game thanks to the play of junior shooting guard Keyshaun Street and junior forward Airen Brooks. Brooks leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game followed by Street (14.6). Brooks also averages 10.9 rebounds per game.
MR. DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior forward Airen Brooks contineues to pace DSU, averaging 16.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. The Phenix City, Ala., native and former Shelton State CC star is 6th in the Gulf South Conference in rebounding and 1st while ranking 10th in FG percentage (46.7). In 12 starts, Brooks has recorded five double-doubles while narrowly missing out on three more.
INSTANT RESULTS: Freshman shooting guard Austin Laatsch has produced instant results for the Statesmen this season, averaging 8.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The Birmingham, Ala., native, ranks 17th in the GSC in 3-point field goals per game (2.1) and is among the top freshman scorers in the league.
FLOOR GENERAL: Graduate-transfer Anderson McCoy has helped maintain the poise of the Statesmen on offense. He is averaging 11.6 ppg while also giving out 4.5 assists per game as well. In 13 games played he only has 30 turnovers while averaging 38 minutes a game.
