CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University men's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with high expectations.

Head Coach Mike Nienaber enters his seventh season at the helm of Statesmen Basketball. Delta State is coming off a solid 17-13 overall record in 2024-25, including a 12-10 mark in Gulf South Conference play. Offensively, the Statesmen averaged 80.2 points per game while holding opponents to 78.9 points per game.

Among the key returners is Kolby Horace, a 6-foot-3 senior guard from Mobile, Ala., who led the team in rebounding last season with 4.4 boards per game. Horace's season was highlighted by a dominant double-double performance against Auburn-Montgomery on Jan. 30 where he scored 25 points, adding 11 rebounds.

Also returning is Je'Marion Westbrook, a 6-foot-7 forward who proved to be a reliable two-way presence a year ago. Westbrook finished second on the team in rebounds with 4.1 rebounds per game, averaged 25.3 minutes per game, and led the squad with 15 blocks.

Despite the strength of the returning group, Delta State will look to fill the void left by graduating players including standout backcourt duo Chris Terrell and Keithean Brooks, both 1,000-point scorers and the team's top two offensive threats last season, as they averaged 20-plus points per game. 

Delta State's non-conference slate includes games against LeMoyne-Owen, Williams Baptist, Kentucky Wesleyan, Arkansas Monticello, and Ouachita Baptist, before tipping off GSC play at home on Thursday, Dec. 4 against the Union University Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Horace was named to the Preseason All Gulf South Conference Team, while Decory Porter, Elisha Puckett, and Jackson Twombly were named Newcomers to Watch.

For the full 2025 schedule, visit GoStatesmen.com.