MEMPHIS—A diving header in the 88th minute by Christian Brothers University defender Jack Richardson (Sunshine Coast, Australia) lifted the Bucs to a 3-2 victory over Delta State Wednesday night in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools.

Richardson's header, off a Clark Bradford (Blackburn, England/Ribblesdale HS) corner kick, proved to be the decisive goal in a wild second half.

Bradford put the Bucs (3-5-1, 1-0 GSC) on the board in the 36th minute as he scored off an Andrew Ballard (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS) cross in the box.  The goal capped a first half which the Bucs dominated in every way, out-shooting the Statesmen (3-6-1, 0-1) 13-1, including a 7-0 edge in shots on goal.

The Statesmen would be efficient with their scoring chances in the second half.  They scored on their first shot on goal in the game as Brunno Santos found the net in the 47th minute.

Bradford struck again for the Bucs in the 51st minute as he gathered a Zach Tubinis (Memphis, Tenn./Houston HS) pass and fired a shot past DSU keeper Flavio Romero, who made nine saves in the game.

But the Statesmen wouldn't go quietly as Patrick Grafton found David Horstmann on a through pass, and he knotted the game again in the 58th minute.

The Bucs kept pressure on throughout, with Romero making several spectacular saves to keep the game tied before Richardson's game-winner with just 2:42 remaining.

For the game, the Bucs out-shot the Statesmen 25-5, including a 13-2 margin in shots on goal.

The Bucs step out of GSC play Tuesday night at 7 p.m. as they visit Union.