CLEVELAND, MISS. – The Delta State University Men's Basketball Team (5-6, 2-4 GSC) will kick off the 2026 year on the road with trips to Pensacola, Fla., followed with a trip to Valdosta, Ga.
 
The Statesmen will tip off this afternoon against the Argonauts from the University of West Florida. (10-3, 3-2 GSC) at approximately 7:30 p.m. (CT) in the UWF Field House. Following that, DSU will head to Valdosta to take on the Blazers from Valdosta State University (6-5, 1-4 GSC) Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (CT).
 
The Voice of the Statesmen Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network with the tip off show after the post-game show for the Women's games.
 
Scouting the Statesmen

• Delta State is looking to snap a two-game skid in the new year as they enter 2026 with a 5-6 overall record and a 2-4 record in Gulf South Conference play.
• The Statesmen have had solid production in their back court from junior guards Bryce Clayton and Dacory Porter. Clayton has been the sniper from beyond the arch for the Green and White. The Naples native averages 12.8 points per game and is averaging 2.9 three-point field goals per game.
• Porter enters the weekend as the Statesmen's top scorer averaging 13. 9 points per game. In the last weekend of 2025, Porter averaged 23 points per game for the green and white as he shot 16-30 from the field.
• In the front court, DSU relies on senior forward Je'Marion Westbrook, who is the teams leading rebounder. The Marianna, Ark., native averages 12.1 points per game and pulls down 6.8 rebounds per game.

Scouting the Argonauts

• UWF has been exceeding expectations in the 2025-26 season, entering this weekend with a four-game winning streak, holding a 10-3 record with a 3-2 record in conference play. The 10 wins already surpass the eight wins from the 2024-25 season.
• The Argonauts are led by redshirt junior wing Anthony Igiede. The Baton Rouge native enters this weekend averaging 16.5 points per game. Last time out, Igiede led the Argonauts with a 22-point performance with a 82-78 win over Trevecca Nazarene in the Music City.
• Tim Hall Jr. has been the force in the Argonauts front court. The Charlotte native is the team's leading rebounder averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. Against TNU, Hall had a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Scouting the Blazers

• Valdosta State enters this weekend on a three-game skid with a 6-5 overall record and a 1-4 record in conference play. Last time out, the Blazers dropped a close contest on the road against Lee 87-83.
• The Blazers are one of the top scoring teams in the nation averaging 96.2 points per game. VSU is led by senior forward Drew Mills. The Baltimore native is averaging 15.4 points per game and is shooting 48.4 percent from the field. In the loss at Lee, Mills led the way with 17 points as he got to the free-throw line where he shot 6-8.
• Mills is joined in the front court by junior forward Blaise Wallace. The Tallahassee native is averaging near a double-double per game, scoring 12.6 points per game and pulling down 9.7 rebounds per game.