Princess Anne, MD --- The Delaware State men's basketball team is off to a good start in its bid for a fourth straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season title. Donald Johnson, starting in place of injured Roy Bright (toe), led all players with 22 points and 13 rebounds in the Hornets' 59-47 win over Maryland ?Eastern Shore in the MEAC opener for both teams at the Hychte Athletic Center Saturday. Joe Dickens and Terrance Parks scored 13 each for DSU, which snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 3-4 on the season. Johnson, making his first start of the season, was 8-for-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point territory. Delaware State never trailed in the game. Jerel Chavis capped off a 7-0 DSU run with a lay up to give the Hornets a 14-7 lead with 12:00 left in the first half. Dickens hit a jumper as time expired in the first half to put DSU ahead 31-20 at intermission. The Hornets opened up a 38-24 lead on a lay up by Johnson with 14:33 left to play. UMES had a 7-0 run in the second half, and pulled to within 40-33 on a three-pointer by Josh Bright with 10:55 remaining. Delaware State responded with a 16-3 run, and opened up its biggest lead, 56-36, when Johnson nailed his fourth three-pointer of the game with 3:25 left to play. Ed Tyson was high scorer for UMES, which fell to 1-7 on the season. Bright, Delaware State's leading scorer at 20.7 points-per-game, was scratched from the line up just prior to tip off. He is expected to play when the Hornets return to action on Wednesday (Dec. 5) at Arizona State.