DOVER, Del. ? Twenty-point performances by Donald Johnson and Frisco Sandidge helped lead the Delaware State Hornets (3-14) to a 73-50 win over the Winston Salem Rams (4-10) on Monday, January 12 at Memorial Hall. Johnson, who netted a game-high 22 points, was four shy of tying his career best, while Sandidge tied his career high with 21 points versus the Rams.
The Hornets never trailed in the contest, shooting 50 percent on the night, while holding the Rams to 36.7 percent shooting from the floor.
“I thought tonight was probably the first time all season we played with the type of passion and desire it takes to win basketball games,” said Head Coach Greg Jackson. “I thought we came in the first eight minutes of the ball game and executed our system on both ends of the floor. The kids did an excellent job in practice the night before, understanding what it takes for us to have a winning program. I thought we did a great job during the first 15 minutes of this ball game.”
Holding a nine-point lead heading into halftime, DSU shot 70.0 percent (14-of-20) during the second half to register its most-decisive victory of the season (23 points). Along with Johnson’s 22 points and Sandidge’s 21, junior Fred Bouie poured in 10 points and registered three assists in the contest. Johnson finished the night shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point land. Sandidge, who was also one rebound shy of his second double-double of the season, converted 9-of-11 shots, grabbed nine rebounds and registered a career-high four blocks. Junior Marcus Neal scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds versus WSSU, shooting 3-of-9 (2-of-7 from “downtown”), while tallying three assists.
All 11 DSU players who dressed saw action during Monday’s contest.
Delaware State forced 16 turnovers which resulted in 17 points. The Hornets, which held Winston-Salem State to 17 points in the first, scored nearly as many points in the second half (47) as the Rams scored in the entire game (50). The Rams, which shot 18-of-49 form the field, were led by Jamal Durham, who registered 13 points and six boards. Brian Fisher also recorded double-digits in the scoring column, notching 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Delaware State started the first half on a 6-0 run following a 3-pointer by Neal. The Rams responded tying the game at 6-all on a jumper by Lamar Monger with 13:42 on the clock. Two-straight 3-pointers by Johnson gave DSU its second six-point lead of the game with 10:32 left in the half. The Hornets extended their lead to double digits for the first time in the game on Johnson’s third trey of the half (7:25). With DSU’s lead hovering around the 10-point barrier for the remainder of the half, a basket by Brandon Hobbs (00:16 left in the half), cut Delaware State’s lead to 26-17, heading into halftime.
The Rams scored the first points of the second with a jumper by Fisher to give DSU a 26-19 lead with 19:30 left in the game. The seven-point deficit proved to be the closest WSSU would get as the Hornets extended their lead to as many as 25 during the final 20 minutes. DSU went on a 7-2 run during midway through the second half, capped off by a pair of free throws by Bouie with 6:05 on the game clock to give DSU is first 20-point lead of the season. Delaware State and Winston Salem State exchanged baskets for the next four minutes before the Hornets clamped down on defense, holding the Rams without a field goal during the final 3:24 seconds of the game. With 1:37 left in the game, a pair of free throws by Trevor Welcher gave DSU its highest point total of the season (73 points). WSSU’s Julian Murphy-Long drained a pair of free throws with a few seconds left in the game to make the score 73-50.
The victory snapped a five-game losing skid for the Hornets and improved DSU to 3-2 at home this season. The win also moved Coach Jackson within two victories of his 500th-career win (298-203).
Delaware State will travel to Norfolk, Va., to face the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.