CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University men's basketball program (2-0, 0-0 GSC) defeated LeMoyne-Owen College 80-76 Sunday afternoon at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
 
The Statesmen keyed in from beyond the arch throughout the game as the team nailed 14 three balls, including four from Jesse Washington.  Washington and Keithean Brooks led the Statesmen scoring, both with 16 points.
 
The Statesmen would get a quick start from Samuel Whitmer as he would knock down two three balls in the first five minutes. Chris Terrell would have five assists in the first five minutes as he would continue to attack the Magician zone defense, finding open shooters.
 
Terrell would near a double-double as he would finish the evening scoring 10 points and dishing out nine assists. Kolby Horace was the fourth Statesmen to score double digits as he score 12 points.
 
As the Statesmen would sub five in, five out throughout the first half, Delta State would get big production out of their bench as they would outscore the LeMoyne-Owen Bench 30-5.
 
Midway through the first half, the Statesmen would pull ahead and grab their largest lead of the game at 27-13 at the 10-minute mark in the first half.
 
The Magicians would bring it back to a one-point game before the half as the Statesmen would enter the break leading 36-35.
 
The Statesmen and the Magicians would exchange leads six times before the Magicians would get their biggest lead of the game, leading 54-50 with 12:54 to go.
 
At the 12-minute mark, the Statesmen would pull ahead to a five-point lead on three point shots made by Bryce Clayton and Washington to make it 63-58.
 
The Magicians would answer, taking a 64-63 with under 6:30 remaining in regulation. For the next four minutes, the teams would continue to exchange the lead six times before the Statesmen would get a three ball from Washington that would give the final lead of the game.
 
The Magicians would make a final push, but a free throw offensive rebound from Decorian Payton would seal the deal for the Statesmen as they would improve to 2-0.
 
The Statesmen will hit the road Tuesday night, as they travel to Jackson, Tenn., to take on the Dragons from Lane College. That game will tip off at 7:00 p.m., follow the game on the Statesmen Sports Network as Michael Gross will have the call.