CLEVELAND, Miss. – The UWF men's basketball team shot just 33 percent and couldn't slow down a hot shooting Delta State squad in a 70-61 loss at Sillers Coliseum on Thursday.
 
UWF (12-12, 9-8 Gulf South) came out on fire in the early part of the game, making 12 of its first 25 shots for a 33-18 lead before taking a 9-point margin into the intermission. The Argonauts made seven 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes to help build their margin.
 
But Delta State was nearly unstoppable in the second half. The Statesmen shot 76 percent and were 16-of-21 in shooting as they outscored the Argos 46-28 for the win.
 
UWF led 44-34 following a Cameron Cox dunk with 15:29 remaining. DSU scored the next nine points to get within a point before a Tarik Mckelphin three halted the run. The Statesmen made their next three shots and grabbed a 50-46 lead and never trailed again.
 
Mckelphin led the Argos with 19 points and eight rebounds. He had four 3-pointers and 14 points in the first half. Cox had 12 points and seven assists, while Brett Carter, Jr. made three outside shots on consecutive possessions in the first half for nine points.
 
DSU (9-15, 5-11) had five players in double figures, with Airen Brooks coming off the bench for a team-high 16 on 6-of-8 shooting.
 
UWF will look to rebound on Saturday when it faces Mississippi College (8-14, 4-12) at A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, Miss. at 4:00 p.m.