CLEVELAND, Miss.,  - After taking a 10-point lead at the half, Delta State was able to hold off several North Alabama charges over the final 20 minutes to come away with a 75-70 home victory Monday evening at the Sillers Coliseum. Joe McCray led four DSU player in double figures with 17 points on the night as the Statesmen improved to 3-2 for the year. The loss drops UNA to 2-3 on the season.

Facing a 36-26 half-time deficit, the Lions cut the lead to a single point on three different occasions before taking their first lead of the game with just over five minutes to play. A three-point basket by Jared Strode put UNA on top 61-60 with 5:09 remaining.

Strode, who led all scorers with 18 points, later hit a pair of free throws to put the Lions on top 65-63 but DSU closed the game with a 12-5 run to earn the win. Rory Miller added a season-high 14 points for UNA while Daviel Clements also reached double digits with 10 points on the night.

North Alabama will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., on Friday to take on Ouachita Baptist for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Lions defeated the Tigers 90-64 on Nov. 21 at Flowers Hall.