CLEVELAND, Ms. – The Shorter Hawks fell to the Delta State Statesmen in Gulf South Conference play on Thursday night, 86-71.

Phil Taylor scored his first points just 3:32 into the game, making the score 10-6 in favor of Delta State (17-9, 12-8). The Statesmen went on an 11-4 run to extend their lead to double-digits, 21-10, but Shorter (12-14, 7-13) made a comeback, countering Delta State's run with a 6-0 run of its own thanks to a trio of players. It all started with a dunk by Trevor McDade, followed by a pair of free throws by Taylor, who earlier this season broke the GSC record for most free throws made in a single season. Less than a minute later, Amonte Potter cut the Statesmen advantage to 21-16 with 11:33 left until the intermission.

Unfortunately, Delta State went on a second run, this one much bigger than the first. The Statesmen outscored the Hawks 20-4. Several players contributed to the home team's run, including Brett Warner, Zelvin Smith, and Devin Schmidt who scored four points each.

Trailing 41-20, Shorter battled back to pull within 15 points at the half. The teams traded baskets over the final minutes of the first, as both squads heated up from beyond the arc. With 2:17 remaining until the break, Cole Birchfield connected from long range, pulling the Hawks within 18. After another 3-pointer from each team, McDade's jumper with 53 seconds left made the score 48-32. Delta State scored with 30 seconds to go, but Potter hit his second three of the opening half as the clock wound down, sending Shorter into the intermission trailing 50-35.

In the second half, Taylor cut the Statesmen led to 12 as he made a three just moments after play resumed. Delta State stretched its lead to 17, but the Hawks pulled within 11 thanks to Taylor's free throws just prior to the midway point of the final half. Shorter traded baskets with the Statesmen before the home team slowly increased its lead. With 2:48 to go, DSU took a 22-point lead, 83-61, its largest lead of the contest. The Hawks cut into the lead late thanks to 3-pointers by Matt Catanzano and Joshua Jernigan, but fell, 86-71.

Three players scored in double figures for Shorter, led by Taylor with 14 points. McDade added 13, and Potter contributed 11. The Hawks shot 43% from the field, while the Statesmen made 56% of their field goals. Devin Schmidt led Delta State with 27 points.

Shorter returns to action on Saturday in Clinton, Mississippi. Tipoff between the Hawks and Mississippi College Choctaws is set for 5 PM EST.