GAME NOTES: Shorter @ Delta State (1.2.20)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - With a refreshed and recharged roster ready to go after the holiday break, the Statesmen (5-6, 1-2 GSC) of Delta State University open the 2020 portion of their schedule with the Hawks (3-8, 0-3 GSC) of Shorter University at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 2. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM) and worldwide at GoStatesmen.com starting at 7:15 PM.   

Thursday's matchup is the 14th all-time between the Statesmen and Hawks, with Delta State owning an 8-5 edge in the series standings. In last year's meeting, the Statesmen delivered a 66-57 victory at the Winthrope-King Center on Jan. 5, 2019.   Shorter has not traveled to Cleveland since a 93-85 opening round loss in the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Feb. 28, 2017.

Delta State enters this week's matchup with Shorter averaging 69.7 points while allowing 77.1 per game. Both totals currently ranks 10th in the GSC. The Hawks come into the game scoring 77.7 points while holding the opposition to a league worst 86.6 per game. Shorter's 77.7 points per game ranks 4th in the GSC as well.  

STREET & BROOKS FUELING STATESMEN OFFENSE
Delta State enters Thursday's game with the Hawks averaging 69.7 points per game thanks to the play of junior shooting guard Keyshaun Street and junior forward Airen Brooks. Street leads the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game followed by Brooks (14.7), who also leads the team in rebounding at 10.0 per game.

MR. DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Junior forward Airen Brooks has become an instant force for the Statesmen, averaging 14.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. The Phenix City, Ala., native and former Shelton State CC star is 2nd in the Gulf South Conference in rebounding (10.0) while ranking 11th in FG percentage (46.7). In 10 starts, Brooks has recorded four 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 9.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. The Birmingham, Ala., native, ranks 10th in the GSC in 3-point field goals per game (2.3) and is among the top freshman scorers in the league.

FRESH FACES
Freshman forwards Savvas Georgiadis and Malik Cartwright are providing valuable production for the Statesmen this season, combining for 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.  

STREET & BROOKS CRACK THE TOP 25
Junior guard Keyshaun Street (15.1 ppg/15th) and junior forward Airen Brooks (14.7 ppg/16th) both rank in the GSC's top 25 in scoring average entering this week's league play.

MOTLEY STEPPING UP
With a rash of injuries over the last three weeks, junior guard Michael Motley (7.3 ppg) has become a steady option for coach Mike Nienaber and the Statesmen, averaging 17.0 points per game in his last two starts. The Buffalo, N.Y., native scored 16 points at Lane and a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds versus Bethel in DSU's last two matchups.

CLEANING THE GLASS
The Statesmen are averaging 34.8 rebounds per game coming into the weekend, which ranks 11th in the GSC. Airen Brooks has been a force on the boards, averaging 9.8 rebounds a game. Zach Varnum has also turned in 6.5 rebounds a game.

DELIVERING THE MAIL
Senior Anderson McCoy has been steady at the point, averaging 3.9 assists per game for the Statesmen. The University of Alabama-Birmingham transfer is currently 8th in the league in assists per game (3.9) and 7th in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). The Indianapolis, Ind., native, delivered a season-high six assists in DSU's 69-55 win over MUW on Monday, Nov. 18.

NIENABER APPROACHING 600 CAREER WINS
Mike Nienaber was introduced as the 16th head coach of the Statesmen on May 6, 2019 and the long-time skipper hasn't looked back. He comes to DSU after a highly decorated run as head coach at Christian Brothers University, where he won two Gulf South Conference championships, made five trips to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the 2009 NCAA DII Elite Eight.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native, needs three wins to eclipse 600 in his decorated career.  He has 598 career victories, including a 356-230 record at the NCAA DII level, rank 11th among active DII head coaches.

WEST GEORGIA WOLVES UP NEXT
Delta State will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, as the Statesmen host the Wolves (3-8, 1-2 GSC) of the University of West Georgia. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM at Walter Sillers Coliseum. The game marks the 50th meeting between the schools with DSU owning an 28-21 edge in the hotly contested series.