Dover, Del. --- Short-handed Delaware State hung tough with Radford for more than 30 minutes, but ran out of steam in a 78-57 loss to the Highlanders in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational in Memorial Hall this evening. It was DSU’s first-ever home post-season contest.
The Hornets end their 2014-15 season with an 18-18 overall record. Radford (22-11) advances to the second round of the CBI for a date with Vermont on March 23.
Delaware State played without injured starters Kendall Gray, Amere May and Kendal Williams in the contest. May was tops in the MEAC and sixth among all NCAA Div. I players in scoring entering the evening. Gray is No. 1 in the MEAC and No. 2 in the nation in rebounding, while Williams leads the Hornets in assists.
Cameron Jones came off the bench to lead three Radford players in double figures with 18 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the field. Javonte Green added 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Highlanders.
DeAndre Haywood, starting at guard in place of May, led the Hornets with a game-high 21 points.
Haywood scored Delaware State’s first 10 points and led all players with 15 at the half, which ended in a 35-35 tie.
The Hornets trailed by seven points on four occasions in the first half before fighting back.
Radford scored 11 of the first 13 points in the second half, and opened up a 46-37 lead on a follow-up dunk by Green with 15:07 left to play.
The Hornets trailed 50-42 before the Highlanders ran off eight straight points to open up a 16-point lead.
DSU could get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way, while Radford led by as many as 26 in the last three minutes.
Scott Sill was second on the Hornets with a season-high eight points, highlighted by two three-point field goals.
Radford shot 52.2 percent in the second half (16-or-29) to post an even 50% mark for the game (31-for-62).
The Hornets hit just 33.3% of their shots from the (21-or-63) floor.
Radford won the rebound battle 48-33.
STINGERS
This was Delaware State’s first post-season contest since 2007 … The Hornets are now 1-4 all-time in post-season play … the contest was played with a 30-second shot clock, five seconds less than normal for men’s college basketball ... some 2015 post-season tournaments are using a 30-second shot clock as the NCAA considers a switch.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com