Box Score Itta Bena, Miss.-
Devonte Hampton scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Braves against Mississippi Valley but it wasn't enough to overcome a 20-point deficit. The Braves fought back late but fell short to the Delta Devils 80-75.
The Braves jumped out to an early 9-2 lead on a monstrous dunk by sophomore
LeAntwan Luckett. Mississippi Valley closed the gap quickly on a jumper by Julius Francis to tie the game at 11-11 with 12:42 to play in the first half and from there the Braves never saw the lead again. The Delta went on a 10-0 run after Francis' basket
Anthony Evans cut the lead to 16-15 on a layup at the 10:52.
Valley would later extend the lead to 10, on a three-pointer by Cameron Dobbs to make the score 31-21 with 2:04 left in the first half.
The Delta Devils took a 13-point lead into the locker room, 34-21.
Moving on to the exciting part of the second half. The Delta Devils kept pushing the lead out when Cordarius Samples hit a pair of free throws to give the Delta Devils a 20-point lead 71-51 with 4:18 to play in the game but the Braves begin to fight back.
Marquiz Baker hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 71-57 with 3:54 to go. Later, Evans hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 74-66 with 1:39 to play. Braves forced a turnover and Evans came down and hit another three-pointer from downtown to cut the lead to five,74-69 with 1:15 to play.
Hampton hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to three, 78-75 but the run stopped there.
Luckett finished with 15 points on the night. Evans and Baker scored 12 points each.
Davon Usher scored a game-high 30 points. Darryl Smith scored 13 points. Matt Smith and Samples added 11 points apiece.
Braves (9-18, 7-5) are back in action Monday night on ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. as they take on Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
