GAME NOTES
CLEVELAND, Miss.- After a close loss and a blowout loss last week, the Delta State University men's basketball team returns home on Thursday to try and end a six game losing streak. The Statesmen will take on the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn-Montgomery from Walter-Sillers Coliseum this week.Tipoff against UAH is set for 7:30 PM.on Thursday night. Tipoff against AUM 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. In a rematch of a close game where DSU lost by just two points, UAH returns to Cleveland for a rematch, The Statesmen lost in a blowout to Lee after being only down by three points at the half. This will be the first time this year DSU will play AUM sd they are the last team that DSU has not yet faced in competition.
INSIDE THE UAH SERIES: Thursday's matchup is the 41th all-time between the Statesmen and Chargers, with Delta State owning a 21-19 all time lead in the series. Last yweek DSU lost 83-81. Statesmen came back from a 13 point deficit last week to almost pull off the upset. Keyshaun Street had a shot at the end of the game to win it, but it came up short. UAH is 7th in the GSC in scoring at 74.3 points per game while only giving up 63.8 ppg which is 2nd best in the GSC. Teams are only shooting 39.8% against UAH. THe Chargers only have one player in the top 25 in scoring with Sam Orf scoring 12.1 ppg but have three others over 10 ppg as well. JJ Kaplan is the second best rebounder in the conference at 9.5 rebounds per game.
INSIDE THE AUM SERIES: Saturday's matchup is the 8th meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Warhawks with DSU having a 6-1 lead in the series. The Green and White are 4-0 all time against AUM at home. AUM is the 5th best scoring team in the GSC at 76.5 ppg while giving up 77.4 ppg. They have won three of their last four games. The Warhawks are the second best 3 pint shooting team in the conference as they make 36.4% of their shots. Carlos Bell is the senior leader for the Warhawks averaging 15.4 ppg which is the 10th best in the GSC.
STREET & BROOKS FUELING STATESMEN OFFENSE: Delta State enters Thursday's game with the Chargers averaging 69.4 points per game thanks to the play of junior shooting guard Keyshaun Street and junior forward Airen Brooks. Brooks leads the team in scoring at16.1 points per game followed by Street (14.9). Street had a career high 30 points in the last meeting with UAH last week.
MR. DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior forward Airen Brooks continues to pace DSU, averaging 16.1 points and 11.1 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 seven 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 2.4 rebounds per game. The Birmingham, Ala., native, ranks 12th in the GSC in 3-point field goals per game (2.1) and is among the top freshman scorers in the league. He has made 36 three point shots which is 11th best in the GSC.
FLOOR GENERAL: Graduate-transfer Anderson McCoy has helped maintain the poise of the Statesmen on offense. He is averaging 11.4 ppg while also giving out 4.4 assists per game as well. In 17 games played he only has 36 turnovers while averaging 38 minutes a game.
