Mississippi Valley State opens its 2026-27 season Tuesday at Marquette after an 81-67 exhibition win over Tougaloo. The Delta Devils will look to carry their balanced scoring and strong rebounding into an early road test against the BIG EAST program.

By the Numbers
  • Mississippi Valley State beat Tougaloo, 81-67, in its Oct. 29 exhibition.
  • Sydnei Marshall led the Delta Devils with 18 points; Mariah Reed-Jones scored 17 and Ja’la Douglas added 14.
  • The Delta Devils shot 49.2% from the field and outrebounded Tougaloo, 46-33.
  • Tipoff at Marquette’s Al McGuire Center is set for 6 p.m. CT on Nov. 3; the game will stream on ESPN+.
Yes, But

The exhibition offered promising signs, but Marquette presents a tougher regular-season challenge. Mississippi Valley State also begins a five-game road stretch, making consistency and team chemistry early priorities.

State of Play
  • Both teams open their regular seasons Tuesday.
  • Mississippi Valley State is led by second-year coach Jason James and a mix of returning players and newcomers.
  • The Delta Devils next visit Chicago State on Nov. 5.
What's Next

Mississippi Valley State will try to build momentum on the road before returning home later in November. Its next test is at Chicago State, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Nov. 5.

Bottom Line

The Tougaloo win gives the Delta Devils encouraging momentum, but the Marquette opener will offer a sharper measure of how their scoring balance and rebounding translate against regular-season competition.