CLEVELAND, Miss. –Delta State snapped West Alabama's five game win streak with a 73-66 victory in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at Walter Sillers Coliseum Saturday.

Delta State improved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the GSC. West Alabama falls to 5-4 and 1-1.  

"We knew coming into this game that it was going to be a battle," said UWA head coach Allen Sharpe.

"[Delta State] hadn't been playing too well and really needed a win. We just didn't make the defensive plays down the stretch. Scoring only 66 points makes it tough to win, that's when you really need to perform good defense.

The score was tied 10 times through the first half, but a 3-pointer from DSU's Jack Madgen, as time expired, gave the Statesmen a 36-33 lead at the half.

"That was demoralizing going into the half," said Sharpe. "We had a play we had designed to try and go up at the half but we had some guys in different spots than they usually are."

Delta State built its lead to as much as 11 points in the second half, but the Tigers cut it down to 62-61 with three minutes to play. The Statesmen were 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final two minutes, while UWA shot 2-4.  

The Statesman, who came into the game leading the league at the 3-point line, finished 6-for-15 (40 percent).

UWA's defense limited Jack Madgen to only one 3-point field goal, as he finished 1-for-4. Magden entered the game third in the nation shooting 22-for-33 from the arc and is Delta State's fifth career 3-point leader with 118 total. Madgen finished with 13 points trailing only Devin Schmidt with 19.

Justin Wright posted a season high of 25 points to lead the Tiger offense. He finished 8-for-13 from the field, 3-for-5 behind the 3-point line and 6-for-6 in free throws.

"Justin is a mature player and a competitor," Sharpe said. "He goes 8-for-13; we need to find a way to get him even more shots. He's very important to what we're doing.
Charles Eaton and Lleon Tillman followed with nine points each. Eaton tallied all of his points from the 3-point land, ending 3-for-6.  Tillman lead the rebounding effort with six.

DSU led 43-19 in points off the bench, while UWA edged out the Statesmen 17-12 points off turnovers, winning the turnover battle by 14-12. Terrance Carroll had three steals; Jarell Byrd and Kenric McCants each finished with two.

West Alabama men's hoops remain on the road and in GSC action, taking on Alabama Huntsville Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Spragins Hall.