Box Score By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – Brandon Pullman had a game-high 22 points and three of his Shorter teammates joined him in double figures, but No. 14-ranked Delta State held control under the boards to hand the Hawks an 83-74 defeat Saturday in a Gulf South Conference clash at the Winthrop-King Centre.

The loss was the fourth in a row for the Hawks, who are now 8-12 overall and 6-8 in the GSC heading into a road test next Thursday when Shorter visits Alabama-Huntsville in another conference challenge.

Delta State (19-3, 12-2) held the advantage through most of the first half, eventually taking a 41-31 lead – its biggest of the first 20 minutes – at the half.

The Hawks, however, cut into the margin in the opening minutes of the second half and tied the game, 47-47, when Brock Rowan connected with a three-pointer with just over 15 minutes remaining.

But the Statesmen regrouped, went on a 13-3 run and with 11:11 left regained the double-digit margin – 60-50 – when Devin Schmidt found the touch from three-point land.

Shorter was never able to make a run after that as DSU built its lead to 65-52 when Michael Weems converted a three-pointer with 9:18 to go and kept the Hawks in check the rest of the way.

The Statesmen finished the game with a decided advantage in rebounding against the Hawks, pulling down 49 caroms to Shorter's 27.
In addition to Pullman's 22 points, Jordan Jacks had 17 points for the Hawks, Dedric Ware had 15 and Brock Rowan finished with 11.

Travis Jones, who came into the game averaging in double figures, did not score after leaving the game early in the first half with an injury.

Willie Readus paced the Statesmen with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jack Magden had 14, Schmidt added 13 and Cornel Knight had 11.