CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Delta State University men’s basketball team will face West Alabama in the Gulf South Conference quarterfinals Tuesday night at Pruitt Hall in Livingston. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time.
The eighth-seeded Statesmen (11-16, 8-14 GSC) earned their spot in the tournament with an 85-77 victory over Mississippi College last Friday. They will attempt to upset the top-seeded Tigers (24-4, 19-3 GSC), who swept the regular-season series with wins of 67-51 and 86-81.
The winner will advance to face the victor of the match between No. 4 seed UAH and No. 5 seed Valdosta State in the semifinals, with the higher seed hosting. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Radio network and Majic 107.5 FM WMJW, with the Voice of the Statesmen calling the action.
In their recent matchup, West Alabama defeated Delta State twice, including an 86-81 win in early February at Pruitt Hall. The Tigers are ranked 11th nationally and lead the conference in scoring defense and rebounding, giving up an average of 64.1 points per game and outrebounding opponents by nearly 10 boards.
West Alabama is led by Rasean Frederick, who averages 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Frederick scored 17 points in both contests against Delta State this season. The Tigers boast four players averaging double figures, contributing to their strong defensive and rebounding performances.
Delta State, meanwhile, is known for its free-throw shooting, leading the GSC at 77.4%. The team is led by redshirt junior guard Dacory Porter, who averages 17.6 points per game and scored a season-high 32 points against West Alabama earlier this season. Je’Marion Westbrook has also been a key contributor, averaging 19.1 points since returning from injury.
The game marks an opportunity for the Statesmen to upset the top seed and advance in the conference tournament. Both teams aim to continue their postseason runs with this pivotal matchup.
