GAME NOTES
CLEVELAND, Miss. - After snapping a seven game losing streak last week, the Delta State University Men's Basketball team hits the road once again this week with two games in the Volunteer State.
On Thursday, the Statesmen will head to Christian Brothers in what will be Coach Mike Nienaber's first visit to CBU as an opposing head coach. Tipoff against CBU is set for 7 PM.on Thursday night. On Saturday, the Statesmen head to Jackson, Tenn. to take on the Union University Bulldogs. Tipoff against Union 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 CBU SERIES: Thursday's matchup is the 104th meeting all time between the Statesmen and Buccaneers which is more than any other team DSU has played. In the first game played in Cleveland this season, Christian Brothers won 67-58. DSU led by five at the half time break but was outscored 41-27 in the second half to pull away. Brad Miller led CBU with 21 points while Daryl Lewis and Joshua Jackson both added 14 points and 7 rebounds a piece. DSU was led by Keyshaun Street who had 21 points while Anderson McCoy scored 10 points. CBU is now 11th in the conference in points per game at 66.7 while giving up 69.1 for fourth best. The Bucs have won four of the last five with their only loss being by seven points at UWG.
INSIDE THE UU SERIES: Saturday's matchup is the 57th meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Bulldogs with DSU having a 41-15 lead in the series. Back on January 16 at Walter-Sillers, Union earned the 68-53 win. Tyree Boykin went on a 11-0 run by himself in the second to help the Bulldogs pull away. Boykin ended up with 21 points and Tylandrius Parks 21 points as well in the win. Airen Brooks had 19 points and Anderson McCoy had 10 points to pace the Statesmen. Union is now third in the GSC at 77.7 ppg while giving up 69.3 ppg
STREET & BROOKS FUELING STATESMEN OFFENSE: Delta State enters Thursday's game with the Bucs averaging 70.4 points per game thanks to the play of junior shooting guard Keyshaun Street and junior forward Airen Brooks. Brooks leads the team in scoring at15.6 points per game followed by Street (14.6). Street had a career high 30 points in the last meeting with UAH.
MR. DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior forward Airen Brooks continues to pace DSU, averaging 15.6 points and 10.8rebounds per game. The Phenix City, Ala., native and former Shelton State CC star is 10th in the Gulf South Conference in rebounding and 1st while ranking 10th in FG percentage (46.7). In 12 starts, Brooks has recorded 12 double-doubles while narrowly missing out on three more.
CARTWRIGHT CLIMBING: Freshman center Maalik Cartwright has continued to improve each and every game. He is now averaging 8.6 ppg while pulling down 5.4 rebounds per game as well. He was named GSC freshman of the week for the week of February 4th. This past week hes scored 47 points on 21-26 shooting from the floor. He pulled down 25 rebounds in the two games. He had a career high 29 points versus AUM.
FLOOR GENERAL: Graduate-transfer Anderson McCoy has helped maintain the poise of the Statesmen on offense. He is averaging 11.2 ppg while also giving out 4.4 assists per game as well. In 19 games played he has 43 turnovers while averaging 38 minutes a game.
