For nearly three months, there were no celebrations in Itta Bena. No relief. Just close calls, long bus rides and a growing number beside the loss column. On Saturday night, that number finally stopped climbing.
A weight lifted in Itta Bena
The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils walked off the floor with something they hadn’t felt since early in the season: a win.
Behind 24 points from Michael James, Mississippi Valley State edged the Texas Southern Tigers 72-71, snapping a 25-game losing streak that had become the longest active skid in Division I. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t pretty. But it was enough.
James shot 8-of-19 from the field and knocked down six of seven free throws, calmly delivering in the biggest moments. Daniel Mayfield added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Xzayvion Childress chipped in 11 on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting night.
For a team that entered at 1-26 overall and winless in conference play, this was about more than one night in February. It was about finally seeing the work pay off.
Surviving the final push
Texas Southern didn’t make it easy.
Duane Posey led the Tigers with 17 points, and Alex Anderson added 15 along with a pair of steals. The Tigers, now 10-16 overall and 8-7 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, had chances late to extend Valley’s misery.
Instead, the Delta Devils made just enough plays down the stretch. A stop here. A free throw there. When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard read 72-71, and a season defined by frustration suddenly had a moment of joy.
More than just a number
Losing streaks have a way of snowballing. Confidence shrinks. Every late-game possession feels heavier than the last. For Mississippi Valley State, that weight had been building since November.
Saturday’s win doesn’t erase a 2-26 record. It doesn’t fix everything overnight. But it does change the tone inside that locker room.
Instead of answering questions about streaks, the Delta Devils get to talk about resilience. Instead of wondering when the next win will come, they can focus on building off this one.
Sometimes in college basketball, especially in a season that hasn’t gone as planned, one point is all it takes to change the mood.