Itta Bena, Miss., may have been the happiest place on Earth on Monday evening.
There are 362 programs playing Division I men’s college basketball this season. Before Monday, 361 of those programs had won at least one game this season.
The lone holdout was Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU in Itta Bena, Miss., far better known for producing Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice than for any accomplishments on the hardwood. The Delta Devils opened this season 0-27, with a few close calls but nary a victory to show for their efforts.
That changed Monday evening. Led by a 21-point outing from guard Rayquan Brown, Mississippi Valley State beat visiting Prairie View, 57–51, to improve to 1-27 on the season.
The announcers on the Delta Devils’ online broadcast celebrated accordingly as fans streamed onto the court.
Enjoy their epic call in the clip below.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE PICKS UP ITS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON AND EVERYTHING WAS PURE GOLD!
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) February 27, 2024
THEY’VE STORMED THE COURT IN ITTA BENA! WORTH EVERY PENNY! pic.twitter.com/Y9qMaMMbCG
“That’s game!” the commentators yelled jubilantly. “They’re storming the court! They’re storming the court! They’re storming the court. Oh my God! … The Delta Devils improve to 1-27, 1-14 in the SWAC! What are you sayin’? The Delta Devils are currently on a one-game winning streak!”
Mississippi Valley State’s men’s hoops history may not be completely barren—the school produced scoring machine Alphonso Ford and scared Duke in the 1986 NCAA tournament, after all.
However, the events of Feb. 26, 2024, appear likely to loom large in the Delta Devils’ annals. Go crazy, Itta Bena.
