CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University men's basketball team hit a season-high 18 three-point field goals and got a game-winning free throw by
Kasey Walker-Gregg with 2.6 seconds left in overtime to secure a victory in the Gulf South Conference opener against the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Kelen Dietrich led five Statesmen players in double figures with 19 points, joined by Walker-Gregg (15),
Airen Brooks (12),
Lee Cotton (12), and
Demond Franklin (10).
THE TIP-OFF:
Score: Delta State 84 | Alabama Huntsville 83
Records: UAH 7-3 | DSU 2-5
Series: Series is tied 22-22
City | Venue: Cleveland, Miss. | Walter Sillers Coliseum
Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateMBB | Instagram - DeltaStateMBB
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Chargers of Alabama-Huntsville jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the game.
- From that point, over the final 15:39 of the first half, the Statesmen outscored the Chargers 29-12 to hold a 29-24 lead at the break.
- Delta State built an 11-point lead with 14:03 to go in the contest, but UAH responded to cut the lead to one-point, 49-48, with 8:04 to play.
- A pair of Cotton three-pointers helped DSU again jump out to a lead, going up nine points with 5:20 remaining.
- Both teams battled to within four points the rest of the way, before a CJ Williamson layup with just a second left in the game send the game to overtime tied 72-72.
- A made three-pointer by Williamson with 10 seconds left in overtime tied the game at 83-83.
- Walker-Gregg drew a foul on a drive to the basket with less than three seconds to play, and made one free throw to give the Statesmen the 84-83 lead.
- A Z'Mari Minter steal iced the win for the Statesmen. Minter finished with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and four steals in 24 minutes.
- Demond Franklin posted 10 points, three rebounds, one assist, and hit two three-pointers in his first game for the Statesmen.
- Delta State registered a season-high 43 rebounds, and out-rebounded the Chargers 43-41.
- Five different Statesmen scored double-digit points, led by Dietrich with 19 points.
- The Statesmen hit 18 three-pointers, which is second in school history, and tied the school record for three-point field goals attempted in a game with 42.
- Neither team shot it well from teh free throw line, with UAH going 19-of-34, while DSU was 16-of-26.
UP NEXT:
The Statesmen remain at home on Saturday, Dec. 4 to take on the University of West Alabama in more GSC action at Walter Sillers Coliseum at 4 p.m.