CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mississippi Valley State University men's basketball showcased determination and late-game energy Friday night, but the Delta Devils fell to Oregon State, 81-65, at Gill Coliseum. Despite facing a sizable second-half deficit, MVSU continued to battle, using defensive pressure and an aggressive offensive attack to close the gap down the stretch.
Matt Anglo led the Delta Devils with a team-high 16 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and connecting on six of seven free-throw attempts.
AJ Abrams followed with 15 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals, providing a strong presence on both ends of the floor.
Tory James Jr. added 12 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while
Caleb Cameron contributed six points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
Tymias Williams chipped in five points and six rebounds, while
Eli Pippins facilitated the offense with a team-high five assists and four rebounds.
Mississippi Valley State (0-4) opened the contest with an early statement as
Gabriel Martinez connected on a three-pointer to give the Delta Devils a 3-0 advantage. Oregon State responded with an offensive surge, but Valley continued to compete behind the scoring efforts of Abrams and James Jr.
Trailing by 12 midway through the opening period, the Delta Devils found an offensive rhythm. James Jr. connected on three shots from beyond the arc over a two-minute stretch, helping Valley trim Oregon State's advantage to just four points, 35-31, with four minutes remaining before halftime.
The Beavers answered with a 10-0 run to close the half, taking a 45-31 advantage into the locker room.
Oregon State (4-0) extended its lead during the second half, capitalizing on efficient perimeter shooting and trips to the free-throw line. However, the Delta Devils refused to surrender, finding a spark from Anglo and Abrams while continuing to apply defensive pressure.
MVSU closed the contest with renewed intensity, outscoring Oregon State 13-3 over the final 3:43. Anglo provided a significant offensive lift during the closing minutes, while Abrams attacked the basket and James Jr. connected on his fourth three-pointer of the night.
Despite the final margin, the Delta Devils demonstrated their ability to create scoring opportunities through defense. Mississippi Valley State recorded 11 steals, forced 17 turnovers and converted those opportunities into 20 points.
MVSU also held advantages in fast-break points (19-12) and second-chance points (11-5), highlighting the team's effort in transition and on the offensive glass.
As a team, Mississippi Valley State shot 39.7 percent from the floor, finishing 23-of-58, while converting 14-of-20 attempts from the free-throw line. The Delta Devils collected 32 rebounds and received 36 points from their bench.
Oregon State was led by Legend Smiley's game-high 18 points, while Daniel Freitag added 17 points. The Beavers shot 48.2 percent from the field and connected on 11 three-pointers.
The Delta Devils will look to build on their defensive intensity and late-game execution as head coach Mike Davis and his squad continue navigating their challenging non conference schedule.
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