Delta Men's Basketball Falls to Wayne County CC

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. — The Delta College Men's Basketball team opened the 2025–26 season on Wednesday night but came up short in a competitive 79–69 matchup against Wayne County Community College. Despite a strong defensive effort in the second half and a breakout scoring performance from multiple starters, the Pioneers (0-1, 0-0 MCCAA) were unable to overcome a slow start.

Wayne County built early momentum with a 44-point first half, capitalizing on efficient shooting and turnovers to take a nine-point advantage into the break. Delta responded in the second half, tightening up defensively and going back and forth with the Wildcats, 34–35, over the final 20 minutes, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Sir Real Smith delivered a standout performance, leading all scorers with 38 points on 15-of-26 shooting, including four three-pointers. Smith was relentless attacking the basket, drawing contact and finishing through pressure to keep the Pioneers within striking distance throughout the night.

Evan Booker added 14 points, pulling down 7 rebounds while playing a team-high 36 minutes. Jaylen Carthan contributed 10 points and four assists as the Pioneers' primary facilitator, while Amari Taylor chipped in 5 points and 4 rebounds.

Delta's reserves saw limited scoring opportunities, but Brady Belcher added energy late with 2 points and 4 rebounds in his 18 minutes of action.

As a team, Delta finished shooting 29.6% from the field, 17.4% from three, and 56.7% at the free-throw line, while securing 39 rebounds and recording 11 assists. The Pioneers also forced Wayne County into 22 fouls, staying aggressive to create trips to the line.

Despite the loss, Delta showcased resilience and several promising individual performances, setting a foundation to build upon as the team moves forward in the early season slate.

The team will face off Mott Community College next Monday at home at 7:30 PM