DOVER (February 16, 2009) ? After send the game into overtime on a running jumper, junior Marcus Neal's last second shot to win the game rimmed out as Delaware State (7-20, 5-7 MEAC) suffered a 74-73 loss to the North Carolina A&T Aggies (13-13, 7-5 MEAC) on Monday, February 16 at Memorial Hall. In the final home contest of the 2008-09 season, Delaware State fell just short of sweeping the Aggies in the season series in front a national audience as the game was televised live on ESPNU.
“It was a great basketball game even though we couldn't pull it out,” said DSU Head Coach Greg Jackson. “The kids showed a lot of character tonight to even give us a chance to win that game”
Delaware State, which shot 50.9 percent on the night, was led by senior Arturo Dubois, who scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Playing in his final home game as a Hornet, Dubois registered the fourth double-double of his DSU career, notching a season-high in scoring. The Harlem, N.Y., native shot 8-of-9 from the floor and recorded three blocked shots. Also playing in the final home game of his DSU career was Donald Johnson, who poured in 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting (5-of-10 from beyond the arc). The 17-point performance was the fourth for Johnson in the last five games. Neal registered 11 points and four assists on the night. The Trenton, N.J., native scored five of his 11 points in the second half of action, including game-tying bucket with 25 seconds left in the contest.
Neither team gained an advantage on the boards with each squad grabbing 29 on the night. North Carolina A&T held a slight edge in points in the paint, 30-26, while DSU scored 19 points on 12 N.C. A&T turnovers.
The Aggies were led Robert Johnson, who registered 13 points and four assists. R. Johnson shot 6-of-11 on the night and recorded two rebounds. Three other Aggies scored in double figures. Thomas Coleman notched 12 points and eight rebounds, while Ed Jones recorded 11 points and Dwane Joshua added 10. Tavarus Alston, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in overtime, recorded eight points and a game-high six assists.
R. Johnson scored seven points early, helping the Aggies jump out to an early 23-15 lead with 10:58 to play in the first half. The teams would mostly trade points for the rest of the period as N.C.A&T went into the locker room with a seven-point lead. Trailing 38-31, DSU held a slight edge in shooting, converting 41.2 percent of its shots to North Carolina A&T's 40.0 percent.
Both teams came out strong offensively to start the second half. N.C. A&T kept a consistent lead with just over 15 minutes to go in the game. However, fought back, taking the teams taking the team's first lead since the 18:17 mark in the first half after D. Johnson sank a 3-pointer to give the Hornets a two-point lead. The trey gave DSU a 50-48 lead with 11:45 left in the game. D. Johnson continued to heat up scoring six more points to give DSU their biggest lead of the game at 60-56 with 5:49 left to play.
The Aggies, mounted an 8-0 run to take the lead back at 64-60 with 3:32 remaining.
The scoring remained back and forth until an Aggies' turnover gave the Hornets the ball back with 47 seconds left in the game. Neal got the ball and drove into the lane, converting a running jumper to tie the game at 64-all with 25 seconds left on the game clock. The Aggies heaved one last desperation shot but, it was no good, send DSU to its first overtime of the season.
In the extra frame, Neal drained a 3-pointer to give DSU 73-72 lead with 1:43 remaining. N.C. A&T responded with an Alston 3-pointer with 40 seconds on the clock. Holding a one-point lead, North Carolina A&T's Jones forced a Neal to turn the ball over, halting DSU first attempt at taking the lead. After a missed free-throw by Alston, Delaware State set up the potential game-winning play with nine second left in overtime. Neal's second attempt at a running jumper with time winding down failed to fall, handing DSU its seventh MEAC loss of the season.
Delaware State travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., to face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Saturday, February 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
