Hornets Survive Late Scare from Aggies for First MEAC Win
DOVER, Del.—The Delaware State men’s basketball team led as many as 22 points second half, but had to survive a furious rally by North Carolina A&T to notch its first MEAC win of the season 57-55 in Memorial Hall this evening.
The Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 2-17 overall and 1-4 in the MEAC this season. The Aggies dropped their eighth in a row to fall to 5-16 and 2-5.
Delaware State’s Todd Hughes was whistled for a foul with 2.5 seconds left. NCA&T guard Sam Hunt hit the first free throw to cut DSU’s lead to 57-55. Hunt missed the second shot on purpose, and the Aggies got a break when the ball went out of bounds off a DSU player with 1.6 seconds on the clock. North Carolina A&T failed to take advantage of the opportunity when it committed a turnover on the inbounds play as time expired.
Dana Raysor was high scorer for Delaware State with 16 points, while Morgan added 12 points and a career-high eight assists for the Hornets.
Hunt was high man for the Aggies with a game-high 19 points, highlighted by 13-of-14 shooting at the line.
Martin Jones came off the bench to add 10 points, while Keyes had 17 rebounds to lead all players for the Aggies.
The win was also Delaware State’s first against a Division I opponent this season.
Delaware State will be back in action on Wednesday at home against defending MEAC regular season champ North Carolina Central.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.ncataggies.com
South Carolina State Hands Pirates First MEAC Loss
HAMPTON, Va.—A late 3-pointer broke a tie game Monday evening at the HU Convocation Center, handing the Hampton University men’s basketball team its first MEAC loss as South Carolina State won the game 67-62.
The Pirates (11-8, 7-1 MEAC) had their six-game winning streak snapped.
Reginald Johnson, Jr. led three Pirates in double figures with 19 points, going 6-for-18 from the floor and hitting two 3-pointers. Brian Darden added 13 points, while Quinton Chievous chipped in 12 points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and dished out a team-high five assists.
Dionte Adams also had nine rebounds.
The Pirates shot 33.8-percent (24-for-71) from the floor and hit 5-of-25 3-pointers (20.0-percent). Hampton also struggled from the free throw line on the night, going 9-for-19 (47.4-percent).
S.C. State (11-11, 6-2 MEAC) shot 42.6-percent (26-for-61) from the floor and made 4-of-16 3-pointers (25.0-percent). The Bulldogs held a 47-42 edge in rebounding and a 4-1 advantage in blocked shots.
Eaves led the Bulldogs with 18 points.
The Pirates will play host to Norfolk State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.scsuathletics.com
NSU Scores Season High in 92-73 Win over Savannah State
NORFOLK, Va.—For the second straight game and the second time in three days, the Norfolk State men’s basketball team tied the school record for 3-pointers. The Spartans scored a season-high in points in a 92-73 win over Savannah State on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall.
Senior Charles Oliver hit 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and shot 8-of-11 overall for a career-high 25 points. He helped NSU hit 14-of-30 from 3-point range, tying the record originally set in November against DePaul in the Paradise Jam, and then tied again on Saturday against South Carolina State.
The Spartans tied their season high for points in a half with 52 in the second after holding a 14-point lead at the break. Savannah State’s only lead on the night came at the beginning when the Tigers scored the first bucket of the game. NSU led by double digits for most of the last 15 minutes of the first half, and by at least 20 most of the second stanza.
With the win, the fifth in the last six games, NSU improved to 10-12 overall and 6-1 in the MEAC. The Spartans now sit a half game behind Hampton for first place.
NSU and Hampton will play the first Battle of the Bay of the season next Saturday when the Spartans travel to Hampton for a 6 p.m. matchup with first place in the league on the line.
Senior D’Shon Taylor and junior Jonathan Wade each added 14 points to the Spartan scoring effort, combining to hit 10-of-14 from the field. Senior Jeff Short also reached double figures with 13 points. Short, Taylor, Wade and sophomore Devonte Banner each had two 3-pointers.
Savannah State shot 25-of-60 (41.7-percent) from the floor, including 8-of-23 from 3-point range. Christopher Martin was one of five players in double figures for SSU with 16 points. Dexter McClanahan had 15, while Troyce Manassa tallied 14 points with a team-leading six rebounds.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.ssuathletics.com