After a tough stretch of road games resulted in a four-game losing streak, the Vicksburg Gators needed to come home and get a breather.

Class 2A South Delta provided it.

Sophomore point guard Edward Davis returned to the lineup after sitting out a week with a concussion, scored 16 points and led the Gators to a 71-55 win on Friday night. It was Vicksburg’s first victory since Nov. 10 against Brookhaven. It had won three of four to start the season.

“It’s been a while since we’ve won a game,” Gators coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “It was a combination of things, mainly being inexperience, being on the road for the first time and Red (Davis) got hurt. He missed a game and a half.”

Davis, who suffered a concussion against Canton, was back after sitting out the week required by the MHSAA’s player safety guidelines. His return was exactly what the Gators needed.

Davis’ floor leadership and scoring was key to beating a game South Delta squad.

Davis dished out six assists while also grabbing four steals and four rebounds. Romeo Carter chipped in 15 points and five rebounds, while De’Angelo Richardson had 13 points and two steals.

South Delta coach Roy Watson was glad to get a chance to play a Class 6A team, even if it didn’t end well for his team.

“I’m glad they took me up on my offer,” Watson said. “We want to compete and play against a bigger team and it’s a short trip. We were excited to play them.”

South Delta (3-3) trailed by 20 in the second quarter and 16 late in the third but used an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter and make it 53-46.

Davis recharged the Gators. His feed to Tre’Darius Carter led to a free throw. Davis followed with two more free throws and a basket off a steal to boost the lead back to 12, 60-48, with 3:31 left.

After a lane violation cost the Bulldogs a free throw and left it an eight-point deficit, the Gators killed off 45 seconds of clock before Romeo Carter scored on a backdoor cut to seal the victory with 1:26 left.

Darius Singleton led South Delta with 16 points.