Senate Concurrent Resolution 623

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY "STATESMEN" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH STEVE RIVES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 2005-2006 BASKETBALL SEASON AND FOR WINNING THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Delta State University "Statesmen" Boys Basketball Team led by Coach Steve Rives earned the right to host the Division II South Region Men's Basketball Tournament in Cleveland, Mississippi, after winning the Gulf South Conference Tournament Final on Sunday, March 5, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the Statesmen finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the South Region poll and No. 1 in the National poll; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rives and the Statesmen (30-2) saw their magical season come to a close with an 83-68 loss to the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils in the semifinals of the NCAA South Region Men's Basketball Tournament at the Walter Sillers Coliseum on March 12, 2006. The loss snapped the nation's longest winning streak and ended the season for the nation's top-ranked team; and

WHEREAS, the Statesmen actually led 30-25 after shooting 44% in the opening half. The University of Arkansas-Monticello shot just 36% in the first half, but pulled the biggest one-half turnaround against the Statesmen in school postseason history. The Statesmen placed four players in double digits led by Jeremy Richardson's 17 points. Jasper Johnson dropped in 16 points, while Victor Brown chipped in 13 points and Travis DeGroot scored 11; and

WHEREAS, the Statesmen racked up the basketballs and left the locker room after their greatest season in basketball history. The Statesmen claimed the Gulf South Conference Championship en route to a school record of 30 wins. The Statesmen were also ranked No. 1 in the nation for the second time in school history and for the longest period; and

WHEREAS, Coach Steve Rives claimed his 400th career win in the tournament final and captured his 5th GSC West Coach of the Year Award after the Statesmen claimed a perfect 16-0 record in GSC play; and

WHEREAS, Delta State Senior Center Jasper Johnson was named the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year by Daktronics and Basketball Times on March 21, 2006, by a vote of the nation's media and coaches. The Hollandale native is the first Statesman to garner the nation's top individual honor. He averaged 20.6 points and 8.2 rebounds a game with a 555.5% field-goal mark; and

WHEREAS, Johnson was also named as a finalist for the 2006 Cellular South Howell Trophy, which is awarded annually to Mississippi's top men's college basketball player. Jasper Johnson is a 6'7" Senior from Hollandale, Mississippi, who led Delta State in all offensive categories en route to the school's best record ever at 30-2, a mark that included a 26-game win streak; he earned Division II All-South Region and Gulf South Conference Player of the Year honors with his 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game; and

WHEREAS, Delta State University's Jasper Johnson and Jeremy Richardson were named to the NCAA Division II All-Star Game as part of the NCAA Elite Eight Championship weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Statesmen duo will represent the South Region. Jasper Johnson was also selected to the All-GSC First Team. Jeremy Richardson followed up a brilliant junior season with a stellar senior year. The 6'6" Guard from Zachary, Louisiana, averaged 17.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Statesmen. Richardson was a Second Team All-South Region selection and a First Team All-GSC Guard for a second year in a row; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this magical season by a group of student athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Delta State University "Statesmen" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Steve Rives for their outstanding 2005-2006 basketball season, for winning the Gulf South Conference Championship, for their No. 1 national ranking and for their many postseason awards, and extend to them the best wishes of the Legislature for their future athletic and academic successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Statesmen and the President of Delta State University, be forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.