MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Delta State University men's basketball team rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat LeMoyne-Owen College, 69-60, Saturday evening at Bruce Hall/Johnson Gymnasium. The victory keeps the Statesmen unbeaten at 3-0 to open the 2026-27 season.
Delta State trailed 30-25 at halftime after LeMoyne-Owen used a strong opening period to build an early advantage. The Statesmen shot 42.1% from the field in the first half but faced a five-point deficit heading into the break.
The Statesmen responded with an impressive second-half performance, scoring 44 points while shooting 68.4% from the field and 75% from beyond the arc. Delta State gradually chipped away at the deficit before taking the lead midway through the second half.
Kaue Kalinowski provided a major spark off the bench, finishing with a game-high 15 points. Kalinowski went 3-for-5 from the field and knocked down 9 of 10 attempts at the free-throw line. He also collected four rebounds and recorded four assists.
Kolby Horace and
Brendan Braddix each contributed 14 points. Horace finished with nine rebounds, five assists and five steals while shooting 5-for-7 from the field. Braddix connected on three 3-pointers and added three assists.
Delta State's offensive surge was highlighted by a decisive stretch in the second half. After trailing 43-40, the Statesmen put together a 12-0 run to take control of the contest. Braddix connected on consecutive 3-pointers during the run, while
Bryce Clayton added a triple to help extend the advantage.
The Statesmen continued to apply pressure defensively down the stretch, forcing turnovers and converting opportunities into points. Horace delivered several key defensive plays, including multiple steals that helped Delta State maintain its lead in the closing minutes.
Elisha Puckett added eight points, while
Ahmed Ibrahim contributed seven points off the bench. Samuel Whitmer finished with five points and three assists.
As a team, Delta State shot 55.3% from the field and 52.6% from 3-point range. The Statesmen also converted 17 of 22 attempts at the free-throw line and finished with 19 assists and eight steals.
LeMoyne-Owen was led by Joshua Whitehurst, who scored 12 points, while Marial Malek added 10 points and seven rebounds.
The victory moves Delta State to 3-0 on the season as the Statesmen continue their non-conference schedule as they hit the road Thursday evening to take on the Tigers from Ouachita Baptist at 7:00 p.m.
