CLEVELAND, Miss. – The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team dropped a hard fought 73-68 overtime decision to Delta State on Saturday night at Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Miss.

UWA led by as many as nine points in the final period, but the Statesmen clawed their way back into the contest en route to sending it into the extra period.  DSU knotted the game at 56-56 with seven minutes to play in the game.  The Red and White would re-gain the advantage at 61-56, but DSU fought back to tie the affair at 62 to send the game into overtime.  In the extra period, DSU opened a three-point advantage only to see it dissipate in favor of UWA at 68-67, but the Statesmen scored the final six points to claim the win.

The Tigers carried a four-point margin of 37-33 into the intermission after taking its first lead of the contest at 30-28 on junior Glenn Miles basket at the 2:59 mark of the first half.  UWA led by as many as six points in the first 20 minutes before taking the lead into break.  Two Tigers led the first half charge on the offensive end – Michael Billings and Miles.  Billings scored all ten of his points in the opening stanza while Miles turned in a 13-point performance off the bench in the opening period.  The Birmingham, Ala.-native finished with a game-high 23 points in34 minutes of action.

Junior Maurice Naylor posted ten points in the setback along with a team-high eight rebounds.  Taj Adderley, who joined the team after the fall semester, saw 18 minutes of action in just his fourth game in a red and white uniform.  The Nassau, Bahamas-product added eights points and was credited with three blocks.

DSU placed three players in double figures in the scoring column, led by Eric Spencer’s double-double of 18 points and ten boards.  Johnny Hodge turned in 17 points while Chad Akins added 14 in the comeback win.

UWA returns to Pruitt Hall on Saturday, Jan. 12, opening the Gulf South Conference season against the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  Tip off is set for 4 p.m. The Tigers will close out the GSC opening weekend, hosting West Georgia on Monday, Jan. 14.